--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing leads the scientist so astray as…" description: "\"Nothing leads the scientist so astray as a premature truth.\" — Jean Rostand" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jean-rostand-7588_premature_nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as_3114625.jpg" --- # Nothing leads the scientist so astray as a premature truth. ![“Nothing leads the scientist so astray as a premature truth.” quote by Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jean-rostand-7588_premature_nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as_3114625.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jean-rostand-7588_premature_nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as_3114625.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jean-rostand-7588_premature_nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as_3114625.jpg) > “Nothing leads the scientist so astray as a premature truth.” [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientists can be misled when they accept a tentative result as definitive, causing them to pursue false leads. **In simple terms:** Premature truths mislead scientists. Key Takeaway Validate findings before building on them. Themes science truth methodology Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - lab experiments - peer review - theory testing Key Concepts confirmation bias epistemic humility Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can reduce premature acceptance? - How do you balance openness with skepticism? A Different Perspective Early acceptance of unverified claims can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astray Premature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astray-premature-5448653/) [Premature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premature/) [Premature Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premature-truth-5448651/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Scientist Astray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist-astray-5448652/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [If a given scientist had not made a given discovery, someone else would have done so a little later. Johann Mendel dies unknown after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/if-a-given-scientist-had-not-made-a-given-discovery-someone-else/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [He was born early. But he was born within a safe range of premature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/he-was-born-early-but-he-was-born-within-a-safe-range-of-premature/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [ \[Sherlock Holmes:\] The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sherlock-holmes-the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Men of science have made abundant mistakes of every kind; their knowledge has improved only because of their gradual abandonment of ancient errors, poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sarton/men-of-science-have-made-abundant-mistakes-of-every-kind-their/) [George Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sarton/) > [Perhaps the seeds of false-refinement, immorality, and vanity, have ever been shed by the great. Weak, artificial beings, raised above the common wants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/perhaps-the-seeds-of-false-refinement-immorality-and-vanity-have-ever/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [“Unfortunately, you are far more likely to be harmed or die prematurely as a direct result of modern society than you are from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/unfortunately-you-are-far-more-likely-to-be-harmed-or-die-prematurely/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Anybody who knows about having a premature baby, it's horrific. He was part of a twin, and I lost his sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/anybody-who-knows-about-having-a-premature-baby-it-s-horrific-he-was/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [As a father and grandfather, I have witnessed firsthand the joy of new life entering the world. I know the pain and apprehension that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/as-a-father-and-grandfather-i-have-witnessed-firsthand-the-joy-of-new/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Premature ideas do not exist, one must bide one's time until the right moment comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-monnet/premature-ideas-do-not-exist-one-must-bide-one-s-time-until-the-right/) [Jean Monnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-monnet/) > [“While nuclear fusion is great achievement, it is important that we look into the negative aspects of it. The development of nuclear energy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/while-nuclear-fusion-is-great-achievement-it-is-important-that-we/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [If efforts to do social work are couched in selfish motives, then they will die a premature death. Why would my efforts get politicised?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/if-efforts-to-do-social-work-are-couched-in-selfish-motives-then-they/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Part of the bargain of being alive is that one takes a chance at dying a premature or painful death, be it from violence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/part-of-the-bargain-of-being-alive-is-that-one-takes-a-chance-at/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Jean Rostand > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Le biologiste passe, la grenouille reste. The biologist passes, the frog remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/le-biologiste-passe-la-grenouille-reste-the-biologist-passes-the-frog/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [In politics, yesterday's lie is attacked only to flatter today's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/in-politics-yesterday-s-lie-is-attacked-only-to-flatter-today-s/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [There are certain moments when we might wish the future were built by men of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/there-are-certain-moments-when-we-might-wish-the-future-were-built-by/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [It may offend us to hear our own thoughts expressed by others: we are not sure enough of their souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/it-may-offend-us-to-hear-our-own-thoughts-expressed-by-others-we-are/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [The books one has written in the past have two surprises in store: one couldn't write them again, and wouldn't want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/the-books-one-has-written-in-the-past-have-two-surprises-in-store-one/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Never feel remorse for what you have thought about your wife; she has thought much worse things about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/never-feel-remorse-for-what-you-have-thought-about-your-wife-she-has/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Certain brief sentences are peerless in their ability to give one the feeling that nothing remains to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/certain-brief-sentences-are-peerless-in-their-ability-to-give-one-the/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [The divine is perhaps that quality in man which permits him to endure the lack of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/the-divine-is-perhaps-that-quality-in-man-which-permits-him-to-endure/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Kill one man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/kill-one-man-and-you-are-a-murderer-kill-millions-of-men-and-you-are/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Falsity cannot keep an idea from being beautiful; there are certain errors of such ingenuity that one could regret their not ranking among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/falsity-cannot-keep-an-idea-from-being-beautiful-there-are-certain/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [To be adult is to be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/to-be-adult-is-to-be-alone/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Quotations--always inexact. I don't trust people who cannot even copy out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/quotations-always-inexact-i-don-t-trust-people-who-cannot-even-copy/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [Kill one man and you're a murderer, kill a million and you're a conqueror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/kill-one-man-and-you-re-a-murderer-kill-a-million-and-you-re-a/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [There are moments when very little truth would be enough to shape opinion. One might be hated at extremely low cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/there-are-moments-when-very-little-truth-would-be-enough-to-shape/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) [Explore all 87 Jean Rostand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) ## More Premature quotes > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Premature ideas do not exist, one must bide one's time until the right moment comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-monnet/premature-ideas-do-not-exist-one-must-bide-one-s-time-until-the-right/) [Jean Monnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-monnet/) > [He was born early. But he was born within a safe range of premature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/he-was-born-early-but-he-was-born-within-a-safe-range-of-premature/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [Part of the bargain of being alive is that one takes a chance at dying a premature or painful death, be it from violence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/part-of-the-bargain-of-being-alive-is-that-one-takes-a-chance-at/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [If efforts to do social work are couched in selfish motives, then they will die a premature death. Why would my efforts get politicised?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/if-efforts-to-do-social-work-are-couched-in-selfish-motives-then-they/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [“While nuclear fusion is great achievement, it is important that we look into the negative aspects of it. The development of nuclear energy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/while-nuclear-fusion-is-great-achievement-it-is-important-that-we/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [As a father and grandfather, I have witnessed firsthand the joy of new life entering the world. I know the pain and apprehension that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/as-a-father-and-grandfather-i-have-witnessed-firsthand-the-joy-of-new/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Anybody who knows about having a premature baby, it's horrific. He was part of a twin, and I lost his sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/anybody-who-knows-about-having-a-premature-baby-it-s-horrific-he-was/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [“Unfortunately, you are far more likely to be harmed or die prematurely as a direct result of modern society than you are from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/unfortunately-you-are-far-more-likely-to-be-harmed-or-die-prematurely/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Perhaps the seeds of false-refinement, immorality, and vanity, have ever been shed by the great. Weak, artificial beings, raised above the common wants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/perhaps-the-seeds-of-false-refinement-immorality-and-vanity-have-ever/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [Men of science have made abundant mistakes of every kind; their knowledge has improved only because of their gradual abandonment of ancient errors, poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sarton/men-of-science-have-made-abundant-mistakes-of-every-kind-their/) [George Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sarton/) > [ \[Sherlock Holmes:\] The temptation to form premature theories upon insufficient data is the bane of our profession. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/sherlock-holmes-the-temptation-to-form-premature-theories-upon/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Premature wealth or position cannot be retained because it has not been earned; we get only what we give, and those who try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-haanel/premature-wealth-or-position-cannot-be-retained-because-it-has-not/) [Charles F. Haanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-haanel/) [Browse all 200 Premature quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premature/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing leads the scientist so astray as a premature truth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean Rostand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as-a-premature-truth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Premature" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as-a-premature-truth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jean-rostand-7588_premature_nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as_3114625.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jean-rostand-7588_premature_nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as_3114625.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/jean-rostand-7588_premature_nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as_3114625.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing leads the scientist so astray as a premature truth.” — Jean Rostand", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean Rostand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing leads the scientist so astray...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as-a-premature-truth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/nothing-leads-the-scientist-so-astray-as-a-premature-truth/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```