--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is sometimes easier to circumvent…" description: "\"It is sometimes easier to circumvent prevailing difficulties [in science] rather than to attack them.\" — Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff-77_adversity_it-is-sometimes-easier-to-circumvent-pre_1272825.png" --- # It is sometimes easier to circumvent prevailing… ![“It is sometimes easier to circumvent prevailing difficulties [in science] rather than to attack them.” quote by Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff-77_adversity_it-is-sometimes-easier-to-circumvent-pre_1272825.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff-77_adversity_it-is-sometimes-easier-to-circumvent-pre_1272825.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff-77_adversity_it-is-sometimes-easier-to-circumvent-pre_1272825.png) > “It is sometimes easier to circumvent prevailing difficulties \[in science\] rather than to attack them.” [Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In science, it can be more effective to work around obstacles than to confront them directly, using indirect methods to achieve progress. **In simple terms:** Circumventing problems can be easier than attacking them. Key Takeaway Seek clever work‑arounds. Themes science problem solving innovation strategy methodology Mood analytical practical Type scientific strategic When to use this quote - research design - laboratory experiments - engineering challenges - policy implementation Key Concepts indirect approaches creative problem solving heuristics Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to confront versus circumvent? - What risks arise from avoidance? A Different Perspective May overlook root causes needing direct address. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Circumvent Prevailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumvent-prevailing-4085988/) [Difficulties Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulties-science-4085989/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Easier Circumvent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier-circumvent-4085991/) [Prevailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevailing/) [Prevailing Difficulties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevailing-difficulties-4085990/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. 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Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [Perhaps the most prevailing expectation of men is our Superman expectation: the fear we are merely Clark Kents who won't be accepted unless we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/perhaps-the-most-prevailing-expectation-of-men-is-our-superman/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Lord Jesus, cause me to know in my daily experience the glory and sweetness of Thy name, and then teach me how to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-jesus-cause-me-to-know-in-my-daily-experience-the-glory-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [There exists, at the bottom of all abasement and misfortune, a last extreme which rebels and joins battle with the forces of law and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-exists-at-the-bottom-of-all-abasement-and-misfortune-a-last/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I'm afraid that in the United States of America today the prevailing doctrine of justification is not justification by faith alone. 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Having failed to notice atmospheric pollution, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchan/the-prevailing-ideology-of-the-modern-west-which-is-political-economy/) [James Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchan/) > [The prevailing attitude of the speakers was one of heavy disagreement with a number of things which the reader had not said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/the-prevailing-attitude-of-the-speakers-was-one-of-heavy-disagreement/) [Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/) > [and while faith based on theological reasoning is today universally engaged in a bitter struggle with doubt and resistance from the prevailing brand of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/and-while-faith-based-on-theological-reasoning-is-today-universally/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Modern sociology is virtually an attempt to take up the larger program of social analysis and interpretation which was implicit in Adam Smith's moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/modern-sociology-is-virtually-an-attempt-to-take-up-the-larger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff > [A famous name has this peculiarity that it becomes gradually smaller especially in natural sciences where each succeeding discovery invariably overshadows what precedes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff/a-famous-name-has-this-peculiarity-that-it-becomes-gradually-smaller/) [Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff/) > [Whereas the chemico-chemists always find in industry a beautiful field of gold-laden soil, the physico-chemists stand somewhat farther off, especially those who seek only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff/whereas-the-chemico-chemists-always-find-in-industry-a-beautiful/) [Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff/) [Explore all 3 Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacobus-henricus-van-t-hoff/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. 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