--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the worldly standards of public life…" description: "\"By the worldly standards of public life, all scholars in their work are of course oddly virtuous. They do not make wild claims, they do not cheat, they..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/jacob-bronowski-3073_age_by-the-worldly-standards-of-public-life_2054585.png" --- # By the worldly standards of public life, all scholars in… ![“By the worldly standards of public life, all scholars in their work are of course oddly virtuous. They do not make wild claims, they do not cheat, they do not try to persuade at any cost, they appeal neither to prejudice nor to authority, they are often frank about their ignorance, their disputes…” quote by Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/jacob-bronowski-3073_age_by-the-worldly-standards-of-public-life_2054585.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/jacob-bronowski-3073_age_by-the-worldly-standards-of-public-life_2054585.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/jacob-bronowski-3073_age_by-the-worldly-standards-of-public-life_2054585.png) > “By the worldly standards of public life, all scholars in their work are of course oddly virtuous. They do not make wild claims, they do not cheat, they do not try to persuade at any cost, they appeal neither to prejudice nor to authority, they are often frank about their ignorance, their disputes are fairly decorous, they do not confuse what is being argued with race, politics, sex or age, they listen patiently to the young and to the old who both know everything. These are the general virtues of scholarship, and they are peculiarly the virtues of science.” [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scholarship values honesty, restraint, and respectful debate, avoiding sensationalism and bias while focusing on evidence and reason. **In simple terms:** Scholars are honest, modest, and avoid bias. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and rigor in inquiry. Themes honesty respect modesty critical thinking integrity Mood thoughtful analytical inspirational Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic research - peer review - public lectures - policy advising Key Concepts epistemology scientific method ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - How can scholars guard against hidden biases? - What practices ensure respectful discourse? A Different Perspective Scholars may still be influenced by unconscious biases or institutional pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Public life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-life/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) [Scholarship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [By the worldly standards of public life, all scholars in their work are of course oddly virtuous. 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H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [People of good character are not all going to come down on the same side of difficult political and social issues. Good people-people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/people-of-good-character-are-not-all-going-to-come-down-on-the-same/) [William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/dispute-not-because-ye-see-not-for-ye-receive-no-witness-until-after/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [In our system of government, the judicial and legislative branches have different roles. Judges are not politicians. Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. 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