Cost Quote by John William Draper
“Experimental investigation, to borrow a phrase employed by Kepler respecting the testing of hypotheses, is "a very great thief of time." Sometimes it costs many days to determine a fact that can be stated in a line.”
About This Quote
Testing hypotheses often consumes excessive time for minimal gain.
In simple terms: Research can be time‑consuming for simple facts.
Key Takeaway
Allocate time efficiently.
Themes
research
efficiency
hypothesis testing
Mood
frustrated
determined
Type
analytical
pragmatic
When to use this quote
- lab work
- field studies
- data verification
- grant proposals
Key Concepts
scientific method
cost‑benefit analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you streamline verification?
- When is a quick check sufficient?
A Different Perspective
Time spent may delay progress if not prioritized.
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