--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I venture to define science as a series…" description: "\"I venture to define science as a series of interconnected concepts and conceptual schemes arising from experiment and observation and fruitful of furth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-bryant-conant-20515_concepts_i-venture-to-define-science-as-a-series_1883120.png" --- # I venture to define science as a series of interconnected… ![“I venture to define science as a series of interconnected concepts and conceptual schemes arising from experiment and observation and fruitful of further experiments and observations. The test of a scientific theory is, I suggest, its fruitfulness.” quote by James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-bryant-conant-20515_concepts_i-venture-to-define-science-as-a-series_1883120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-bryant-conant-20515_concepts_i-venture-to-define-science-as-a-series_1883120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ba/james-bryant-conant-20515_concepts_i-venture-to-define-science-as-a-series_1883120.png) > “I venture to define science as a series of interconnected concepts and conceptual schemes arising from experiment and observation and fruitful of further experiments and observations. The test of a scientific theory is, I suggest, its fruitfulness.” [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science is a network of ideas built from experiments, judged by how well it generates new research and insights. **In simple terms:** Science links ideas and experiments, judged by usefulness. Key Takeaway Focus on creating theories that spark further inquiry. Themes science methodology progress Mood curious analytical Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - research labs - academic curricula - policy making - technology development Key Concepts empiricism theory testing fruitfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a theory’s long‑term impact? - What balances fruitfulness with accuracy? A Different Perspective A theory may be fruitfully productive yet still contain errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Conceptual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceptual/) [Define Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-science-412261/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Fruitful Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruitful-experiments-2672990/) [Fruitfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruitfulness/) [Interconnected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interconnected/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-theory/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Venture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture/) ## Related quotes > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Another of the qualities of science is that it teaches the value of rational thought, as well as the importance of freedom of thought;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/another-of-the-qualities-of-science-is-that-it-teaches-the-value-of/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I define science fiction as fiction in which things happen that are not possible today - that depend, for instance, on advanced space travel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-define-science-fiction-as-fiction-in-which-things-happen-that-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Our public schools arbitrarily define science as explaining the world by natural processes alone. In essence, a religion of naturalism is being imposed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/our-public-schools-arbitrarily-define-science-as-explaining-the-world/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) > [“I define science fiction as the art of the possible. Fantasy is the art of the impossible. Science fiction, again, is the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-define-science-fiction-as-the-art-of-the-possible-fantasy-is-the-2/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [A conceptual scheme is never discarded merely because of a few stubborn facts with which it cannot be reconciled; a conceptual scheme is either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/a-conceptual-scheme-is-never-discarded-merely-because-of-a-few/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Science is a dynamic undertaking directed to lowering the degree of the empiricism involved in solving problems; or, if you prefer, science is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/science-is-a-dynamic-undertaking-directed-to-lowering-the-degree-of/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [I am not me but the living matter fermenting and forming it's own shape in the fruitfulness of everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/i-am-not-me-but-the-living-matter-fermenting-and-forming-it-s-own/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [The Indian Corn, or Maiz, proves the most useful Grain in the World; and had it not been for the Fruitfulness of this Species,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lawson/the-indian-corn-or-maiz-proves-the-most-useful-grain-in-the-world-and/) [John Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lawson/) > [That is why success and fruitfulness depend as much upon focusing on the "who" you are as much as the "what" of the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/that-is-why-success-and-fruitfulness-depend-as-much-upon-focusing-on/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [You must elect your work; you shall take what your brains can, and drop all the rest. Only so can that amount of vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/you-must-elect-your-work-you-shall-take-what-your-brains-can-and-drop/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In marriage we have a duty to God, our spuses, the world, and future generations. But we are sinners. A husband and wife need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/in-marriage-we-have-a-duty-to-god-our-spuses-the-world-and-future/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“When you invest your time you will notice that you are being fruitful and that you are multiplying your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/when-you-invest-your-time-you-will-notice-that-you-are-being-fruitful/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“To esteem what makes you holy over what makes you happy - that is the greatest dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/to-esteem-what-makes-you-holy-over-what-makes-you-happy-that-is-the/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) ## More by James Bryant Conant > [Diversity of opinion within the framework of loyalty to our free society is not only basic to a university but to the entire nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/diversity-of-opinion-within-the-framework-of-loyalty-to-our-free/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite, its own aristocracy based on excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/each-honest-calling-each-walk-of-life-has-its-own-elite-its-own/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Education is what is left after all that has been learnt is forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/education-is-what-is-left-after-all-that-has-been-learnt-is-forgotten/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [A Harvard education consists of what you learn at Harvard while you are not studying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/a-harvard-education-consists-of-what-you-learn-at-harvard-while-you/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [There is only one proved method of assisting the advancement of pure science-that of picking men of genius, backing them heavily, and leaving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/there-is-only-one-proved-method-of-assisting-the-advancement-of-pure/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite, its own aristocracy based on excellence of performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/each-honest-calling-each-walk-of-life-has-its-own-elite-its-own-2/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [... scientific research is compounded of ... empirical procedures, general speculative ideas, and mathematical or abstract reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/scientific-research-is-compounded-of-empirical-procedures-general/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [He who enters a university walks on hallowed ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/he-who-enters-a-university-walks-on-hallowed-ground/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Democracy is a small hard core of common agreement, surrounded by a rich variety of individual differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/democracy-is-a-small-hard-core-of-common-agreement-surrounded-by-a/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Behavior which appears superficially correct but is intrinsically corrupt always irritates those who see below the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/behavior-which-appears-superficially-correct-but-is-intrinsically/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Just like a turtle, we only make progress if we stick our neck out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/just-like-a-turtle-we-only-make-progress-if-we-stick-our-neck-out/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [A conceptual scheme is never discarded merely because of a few stubborn facts with which it cannot be reconciled; a conceptual scheme is either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/a-conceptual-scheme-is-never-discarded-merely-because-of-a-few/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Public education is a great instrument of social change. Through it, if we so desire, we can make our country more nearly a democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/public-education-is-a-great-instrument-of-social-change-through-it-if/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [“Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/behold-the-turtle-he-only-makes-progress-when-he-sticks-his-neck-out/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Even the development of the steam engine owed but little to the advancement of science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/even-the-development-of-the-steam-engine-owed-but-little-to-the/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) [Explore all 30 James Bryant Conant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) ## More Concepts quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-do-like-talking-with-friends-about-big-concepts-you-know-the-stuff/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [For a physicist mathematics is not just a tool by means of which phenomena can be calculated, it is the main source of concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/for-a-physicist-mathematics-is-not-just-a-tool-by-means-of-which/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [All significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/all-significant-concepts-of-the-modern-theory-of-the-state-are/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) [Christy Nockels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-nockels/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) [Browse all 2,468 Concepts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I venture to define science as a series of interconnected concepts and conceptual schemes arising from experiment and observation and fruitful of further experiments and observations. 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