Achievement Quote by John Desmond Bernal
“In science men have learned consciously to subordinate themselves to a common purpose without losing the individuality of their achievements. Each one knows that his work depends on that of his predecessors and colleagues, and that it can only reach its fruition through the work of his successors. In science men collaborate not because they are forced to by superior authority or because they blindly follow some chosen leader, but because they realize that only in this willing collaboration can each man find his goal.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Social Function of Science, John Desmond Bernal, 1939
Science thrives on collaborative effort where each researcher builds on past work and supports future generations, preserving individuality within a shared purpose
In simple terms: Science is a collaborative, cumulative effort
Key Takeaway
Foster collaborative research environments
Themes
science
collaboration
progress
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Research labs
- academic conferences
- open‑source projects
- interdisciplinary teams
Key Concepts
Epistemology
collective intelligence
knowledge transmission
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions balance competition and collaboration?
- What structures best support knowledge sharing?
A Different Perspective
Competition for funding can undermine cooperation
![“The problem [of specialization] is essentially that of communications to an army in action. After a rapid advance communications become disorganized, and there is a temporary halting until they are again in working order.” quote by John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/29d/john-desmond-bernal-14871_action_the-problem-of-specialization-is-essenti_695877.jpg)
![“[In eighteenth-century Britain] engineers for the most began as simple workmen, skilful and ambitious but usually illiterate and self-taught. They were either millwrights like Bramah, mechanics like Murdoch and George Stephenson, or smiths like Newcomen and Maudslay.” quote by John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c15/john-desmond-bernal-14871_ambitious_in-eighteenth-century-britain-engineers_929710.jpg)
