--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Becoming a real researcher has been the…" description: "\"Becoming a real researcher has been the ultimate humbling experience for me. Nature is the examiner from hell; if you find new things at all, you alway..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/joao-magueijo-40503_becoming_becoming-a-real-researcher-has-been-the_1884787.jpg" --- # Becoming a real researcher has been the ultimate humbling… ![“Becoming a real researcher has been the ultimate humbling experience for me. Nature is the examiner from hell; if you find new things at all, you always find them the hard way, with sweat and tears. Only then do you notice that there was a really easy way to find them. But this insight rarely…” quote by Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/joao-magueijo-40503_becoming_becoming-a-real-researcher-has-been-the_1884787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/joao-magueijo-40503_becoming_becoming-a-real-researcher-has-been-the_1884787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/joao-magueijo-40503_becoming_becoming-a-real-researcher-has-been-the_1884787.jpg) > “Becoming a real researcher has been the ultimate humbling experience for me. Nature is the examiner from hell; if you find new things at all, you always find them the hard way, with sweat and tears. Only then do you notice that there was a really easy way to find them. But this insight rarely arrives before you have been utterly humiliated and reduced to despair.” [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Research is humbling; breakthroughs come after hard work and failure, and insight often follows humiliation and despair. **In simple terms:** Research is tough and humbling. Key Takeaway Accept failure as part of discovery. Themes science humility perseverance Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - lab work - grant writing - peer review Key Concepts epistemology innovation learning from failure Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay motivated after setbacks? - What strategies help turn failure into learning? A Different Perspective Not all failures lead to insight; some may be dead ends. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Easy way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-way/) [Experience Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-nature-811769/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-way/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Humbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humbling/) [Humbling experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humbling-experiences/) [Humiliated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliated/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Examiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-examiner-2685839/) [New things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-things/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Researcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-researcher-2685837/) [Researcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/researcher/) [Researcher Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/researcher-ultimate-2685838/) [Researchers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/researchers/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sweat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweat/) [Sweat and tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweat-and-tears/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [How people make gardens is bound to reflect a way of experiencing the natural world, while at the same time this experience of nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/how-people-make-gardens-is-bound-to-reflect-a-way-of-experiencing-the/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [The strong experience of nature... is the necessary basis for all conception of art on which rests the grandeur and beauty of all future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/the-strong-experience-of-nature-is-the-necessary-basis-for-all/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [Nature is where I feel most comfortable; it's where I find my balance. I would like my kids and all future generations to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisele-bundchen/nature-is-where-i-feel-most-comfortable-it-s-where-i-find-my-balance/) [Gisele Bundchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisele-bundchen/) > [We receive experience from nature in a series of messages. From these messages we extract a content of information: that is, we decode the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/we-receive-experience-from-nature-in-a-series-of-messages-from-these/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [Science is the exploration of the experience of nature without psychedelics. And I propose, therefore, to expand that enterprise and say that we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/science-is-the-exploration-of-the-experience-of-nature-without/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Regardless of geographical region or culture gardening is perhaps the most common and shared experience of Nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/regardless-of-geographical-region-or-culture-gardening-is-perhaps-the/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [“As such he cannot experience the nature of the soul. ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/as-such-he-cannot-experience-the-nature-of-the-soul/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The artist and the photographer seek the mysteries and the adventure of experience in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/the-artist-and-the-photographer-seek-the-mysteries-and-the-adventure/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [It takes time--loose, unstructured dreamtime-- to experience nature in a meaningful way. Unless parents are vigilant, such time becomes a scarce resource, not because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/it-takes-time-loose-unstructured-dreamtime-to-experience-nature-in-a/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [The initial organization of the brain does not depend that much on experience. Nature provides a first draft, which experience then revises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/the-initial-organization-of-the-brain-does-not-depend-that-much-on/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [Our minds and memories are crowded with the common experience of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-jones/our-minds-and-memories-are-crowded-with-the-common-experience-of/) [Sadie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-jones/) > [Experience nature. Then you know why it's worth protecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/experience-nature-then-you-know-why-it-s-worth-protecting/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [“Abundance of the Heart. He describes an experience with nature and his father. An environment of trust can have to do with a special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henry-king/abundance-of-the-heart-he-describes-an-experience-with-nature-and-his/) [Arthur Henry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henry-king/) > [There are many different ways now to experience nature. Get out there and hike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/there-are-many-different-ways-now-to-experience-nature-get-out-there/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [Any time you have someone come up and say they love what you do and they get great joy from it is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hemsworth/any-time-you-have-someone-come-up-and-say-they-love-what-you-do-and/) [Chris Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hemsworth/) ## More by Joao Magueijo > [...it's the process of losing oneself in the jungle that makes science worth doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/it-s-the-process-of-losing-oneself-in-the-jungle-that-makes-science/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [Thus, the distance between any two galaxies increases in time, creating the illusion of mechanical motion. But in reality, galaxies just sit there, contemplating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/thus-the-distance-between-any-two-galaxies-increases-in-time-creating/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [I've always felt that copious use of the word 'something' allows anyone to solve any problem, even insoluble ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/i-ve-always-felt-that-copious-use-of-the-word-something-allows-anyone/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [Although the term dialogue was really a euphemism for scientists trying to kill each other, this format worked very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/although-the-term-dialogue-was-really-a-euphemism-for-scientists/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [It is sometimes said that we should never believe a scientific theory until it is verified by experiment. But a famous astronomer has also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/it-is-sometimes-said-that-we-should-never-believe-a-scientific-theory/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [My diary entries during this period constantly refer to the importance of learning how to take criticism. If you shut yourself in your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/my-diary-entries-during-this-period-constantly-refer-to-the/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [Thinking can be lateral or "sweaty". For the latter you're better off in an office and following a routine but for the former you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/thinking-can-be-lateral-or-sweaty-for-the-latter-you-re-better-off-in/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [The game of science can accurately be described as a never-ending insult to human intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/the-game-of-science-can-accurately-be-described-as-a-never-ending/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [Inflation is really like drugging the baby universe with speed. The supercool union of the hitherto unfriendly gods was blessed by amphetamine, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/inflation-is-really-like-drugging-the-baby-universe-with-speed-the/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) > [For instance, the blood of hibernating arctic squirrels may supercool to minus 3 degrees, when it would normally congeal. The supercooled blood still flows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-magueijo/for-instance-the-blood-of-hibernating-arctic-squirrels-may-supercool/) [Joao Magueijo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) [Explore all 11 Joao Magueijo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-magueijo/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) [Christopher Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wood/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) [Browse all 4,715 Becoming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Becoming a real researcher has been the ultimate humbling experience for me. 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