Chemistry Quote by Jean-Baptiste Dumas
“In chemistry, our theories are crutches; to show that they are valid, they must be used to walk... A theory established with the help of twenty facts must explain thirty, and lead to the discovery of ten more.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Chemistry Treatises, 19th century
A theory must be proven by its ability to predict new phenomena, not just fit existing data.
In simple terms: Theories work by explaining more than they start with.
Key Takeaway
Test theories by seeking new predictions.
Themes
science
methodology
prediction
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- research design
- laboratory experiments
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
epistemology
validation
falsifiability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure a theory remains flexible?
- What evidence shows a theory’s predictive power?
A Different Perspective
A theory may be overfitted to existing facts and fail to generalize.
![“He [God] just seems so man-made to me. There are so many theories, and not everyone can be right. It's human nature to need a religious crutch, and I don't begrudge anyone that. I just don't need one.” quote by Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f9/janeane-garofalo-1940_crutches_he-god-just-seems-so-man-made-to-me-ther_1211082.jpg)
