--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd like to think the scientists need us…" description: "\"I'd like to think the scientists need us - but do they? Did Newton need Blake?\" — James Merrill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/james-merrill-28188_blake_i-d-like-to-think-the-scientists-need-us_540528.jpg" --- # I'd like to think the scientists need us - but do they?… ![“I'd like to think the scientists need us - but do they? Did Newton need Blake?” quote by James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/james-merrill-28188_blake_i-d-like-to-think-the-scientists-need-us_540528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/james-merrill-28188_blake_i-d-like-to-think-the-scientists-need-us_540528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b61/james-merrill-28188_blake_i-d-like-to-think-the-scientists-need-us_540528.jpg) > “I'd like to think the scientists need us - but do they? Did Newton need Blake?” [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions the interdependence of scientists and humanity, questioning whether scientists truly need us as much as we need them, and invokes Newton and Blake as symbolic figures of scientific and artistic insight. **In simple terms:** Scientists and humanity may rely on each other, but the balance is uncertain. Key Takeaway Recognize mutual influence between science and society. Themes science humanity interdependence philosophy Mood contemplative curious Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - research funding decisions - public science communication - education curricula - policy making - artistic collaborations Key Concepts dependency reciprocity knowledge creation Questions to Reflect On - Do scientists thrive without public support? - How does artistic imagination shape scientific progress? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate the dependency, ignoring that many scientific advances occur independently of public input. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newton/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists/) ## Related quotes > [I think top scientists need to be compensated at a different scale in society. 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Victor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrill/and-as-i-have-said-it-s-made-me-think-twice-about-the-imagination-if/) [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) > [Knowing some Greek helped defuse forbidding words - not that I counted much on using them. You'll find only trace elements of this language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrill/knowing-some-greek-helped-defuse-forbidding-words-not-that-i-counted/) [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) > [In life, there are no perfect affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrill/in-life-there-are-no-perfect-affections/) [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) > [But those two plays left me on fresh terms with language. I didn't always have to speak in my own voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrill/but-those-two-plays-left-me-on-fresh-terms-with-language-i-didn-t/) [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) > [Class is classlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrill/class-is-classlessness/) [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) > [“Nor do I try to keep a garden, only An avocado in a glass of water -- Roots pallid, gemmed with air. And later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrill/nor-do-i-try-to-keep-a-garden-only-an-avocado-in-a-glass-of-water/) [James Merrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) [Explore all 19 James Merrill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrill/) ## More Blake quotes > [“I caught you!" he beamed. "See, girls really do throw themselves at me. Hey, guys!" His voice echoed off the carved stone and marble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-kirk/i-caught-you-he-beamed-see-girls-really-do-throw-themselves-at-me-hey/) A&E Kirk > [“Livia covered the phone until Kyle looked at her. “You’re simply the best lady I know. I promise not to be oblivious anymore.” Kyle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-covered-the-phone-until-kyle-looked-at-her-you-re-simply-the/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [Just remember that William Blake wasn't even published in his lifetime. Ya gotta keep creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/just-remember-that-william-blake-wasn-t-even-published-in-his/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [“Remember two eighty-six. Livia now counted on the same sort of feverish, rain-soaked determination that had driven Blake to the train station for smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/remember-two-eighty-six-livia-now-counted-on-the-same-sort-of/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia looked puzzled and whispered, “I have no idea why these are special.” Blake dared to touch her face. “They’re the exact color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-looked-puzzled-and-whispered-i-have-no-idea-why-these-are/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [The Country Music Awards were held Wednesday night at Universal City. The best country songs are always about drinking and guns and love gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/the-country-music-awards-were-held-wednesday-night-at-universal-city/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [“... Blake is a ready-made patron saint for those wanting to elevate their marginality, dissent, and queerness into strength. The relative futility of Blake's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-elfenbein/blake-is-a-ready-made-patron-saint-for-those-wanting-to-elevate-their/) [Andrew Elfenbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-elfenbein/) > [“You're the only one who can bring me through this, because I've never trusted someone the way I trust you. I love you so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/you-re-the-only-one-who-can-bring-me-through-this-because-i-ve-never/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Livia used her mouth to warm any part of his body that felt cold. As she sucked his fingers, she heard a decision in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-used-her-mouth-to-warm-any-part-of-his-body-that-felt-cold-as/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“My mother groaned, my father wept, into the dangerous world I leapt. —William Blake”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-walter/my-mother-groaned-my-father-wept-into-the-dangerous-world-i-leapt/) Chip Walter > [“Let me undress you. Not all the way...just as you were today at Blake's. Please. Let me see you again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/let-me-undress-you-not-all-the-way-just-as-you-were-today-at-blake-s/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [I haven't seen a professional player come out of New York in over 20 years since my brother Patrick came out. Blake spent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-haven-t-seen-a-professional-player-come-out-of-new-york-in-over-20/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [“There isn’t a single spot I’ll miss tonight, my wife.” Blake pulled her against him, tilting her head until he could kiss her again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/there-isn-t-a-single-spot-i-ll-miss-tonight-my-wife-blake-pulled-her/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Kyle led the way, and Cole kept a hand on her lower back, holding her hospital gown together. Livia loved the sight of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/kyle-led-the-way-and-cole-kept-a-hand-on-her-lower-back-holding-her/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) Browse all 416 Blake quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd like to think the scientists need us - but do they? 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