--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the educated, the authority of…" description: "\"For the educated, the authority of science rested on the strictness of its methods; for the mass, it rested on the powers of explanation.\" — Jacques Ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/jacques-barzun-3251_authority_for-the-educated-the-authority-of-scienc_3187993.png" --- # For the educated, the authority of science rested on the… ![“For the educated, the authority of science rested on the strictness of its methods; for the mass, it rested on the powers of explanation.” quote by Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/jacques-barzun-3251_authority_for-the-educated-the-authority-of-scienc_3187993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/jacques-barzun-3251_authority_for-the-educated-the-authority-of-scienc_3187993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/jacques-barzun-3251_authority_for-the-educated-the-authority-of-scienc_3187993.png) > “For the educated, the authority of science rested on the strictness of its methods; for the mass, it rested on the powers of explanation.” [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science's credibility depends on rigorous methods for experts and on clear explanations for the public. **In simple terms:** Science must be methodical and understandable. Key Takeaway Promote both rigor and communication. Themes science authority communication Mood analytical thoughtful Type academic educational When to use this quote - academic research - policy advising - media reporting Key Concepts epistemology public understanding Questions to Reflect On - How can scientists bridge rigor and accessibility? - What role should media play in explaining science? A Different Perspective Simplifying can distort nuance; rigorous methods may alienate laypeople. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Authority Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority-science-844765/) [Educated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educated/) [Educated Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educated-authority-5869133/) [Explanation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Rested Strictness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rested-strictness-5869135/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Rested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-rested-5869134/) [Strictness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strictness/) ## Related quotes > [There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/there-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-religion-which-is-based-on/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“When you cease to be fearful of Authority, you become Authority. Neither Baker or Wily, or any of the members of Wily's lock-step staff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/when-you-cease-to-be-fearful-of-authority-you-become-authority/) [Various](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/various/) > [The alternative to doubt is authority, against which science had fought for centuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/the-alternative-to-doubt-is-authority-against-which-science-had/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [The authority of science promotes and encourages the activity of observing, comparing, measuring and ordering the physical characteristics of human bodies. 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When I left, he would eat a dinner of leftovers, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ling-ma/all-winter-long-i-had-glimpsed-his-deeply-set-habits-his-regimented/) [Ling Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ling-ma/) > [“Just because you have stolen someone's heart, luckily owned and occupied as a home, doesn't give you the audacity to enforce hurtful policies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/just-because-you-have-stolen-someone-s-heart-luckily-owned-and/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“But you shouldn't have let her. That's the only way with these fanciful women that chaw high--innocent or guilty. She'd have come round in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/but-you-shouldn-t-have-let-her-that-s-the-only-way-with-these/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“But if you stray too far on the side of distance and strictness, you end up hard and unapproachable. So you need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mccluskey/but-if-you-stray-too-far-on-the-side-of-distance-and-strictness-you/) [Alan McCluskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mccluskey/) > [It is the uninvolved parent who has to resort to strictness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/it-is-the-uninvolved-parent-who-has-to-resort-to-strictness/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [“Education delivered by a strict councellor, and recieved with great pains would never brighten the future of any student.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/education-delivered-by-a-strict-councellor-and-recieved-with-great/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [... the strictness of to-day may have at any moment to be purchased by the laxity of to-morrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-augusta-ward/the-strictness-of-to-day-may-have-at-any-moment-to-be-purchased-by/) [Mary Augusta Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-augusta-ward/) > [The necessity for rules and strictness is a way of dealing with an enormously powerful impulse: Germans are among the most emotional people on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rattle/the-necessity-for-rules-and-strictness-is-a-way-of-dealing-with-an/) [Simon Rattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rattle/) > [“With discipline, you can lose weight, you can excel in work, you can win the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/with-discipline-you-can-lose-weight-you-can-excel-in-work-you-can-win/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) ## More by Jacques Barzun > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [It seems a long time since the morning mail could be called correspondence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/it-seems-a-long-time-since-the-morning-mail-could-be-called/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/teaching-is-not-a-lost-art-but-the-regard-for-it-is-a-lost-tradition/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The reason why research is like sculpting from memory is that in neither is there a concrete visible subject to copy directly. The subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-reason-why-research-is-like-sculpting-from-memory-is-that-in/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Everybody keeps calling for Excellence - excellence not just in schooling, throughout society. But as soon as somebody or something stands out as Excellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/everybody-keeps-calling-for-excellence-excellence-not-just-in/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Bernard Shaw remains the only model we have of what the citizen of a democracy should be: an informed participant in all things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/bernard-shaw-remains-the-only-model-we-have-of-what-the-citizen-of-a/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The ascetic is often a sensualist who has reached the limit of his capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-ascetic-is-often-a-sensualist-who-has-reached-the-limit-of-his/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Idealism springs from deep feelings, but feelings are nothing without the formulated idea that keeps them whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/idealism-springs-from-deep-feelings-but-feelings-are-nothing-without/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/in-teaching-you-cannot-see-the-fruit-of-a-day-s-work-it-is-invisible/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The mind tends to run along the groove of one's intention and overlook the actual expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-mind-tends-to-run-along-the-groove-of-one-s-intention-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Vanity is a static thing. It puts it faith in what it has, and is easily wounded. Pride is active, and satisfied only with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/vanity-is-a-static-thing-it-puts-it-faith-in-what-it-has-and-is/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [By the time I was 9, I had the conviction that everybody in the world was an artist except plumbers or people who delivered groceries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/by-the-time-i-was-9-i-had-the-conviction-that-everybody-in-the-world/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [A student under my care owes his first allegiance to himself and not to my specialty; and must not be burdened with my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/a-student-under-my-care-owes-his-first-allegiance-to-himself-and-not/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [We are accustomed to the artist scoundrel or specialist in vice, and unaccustomed to the creator in whom passion and reason and moral integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/we-are-accustomed-to-the-artist-scoundrel-or-specialist-in-vice-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The professionals resemble and recognize each other by virtue of the stigmata that their trade has left upon them. 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