Bubble bath Quote by Jonathan Stroud
““Lockwood stepped aside, his boots crunching across the salt, to stand and study the paper beneath the light. No such luck with George; he came in close, his eyes bulging so much behind his spectacles, they almost pressed against the glass. 'I can't *believe* you did that, Lucy. You're crazy! *Purposefully* freeing a ghost!' 'It was an experiment,' I said. 'Why are you complaining? You're always messing about with that stupid jar of yours.' 'There's no comparison. I keep that ghost *in* in the jar. Anyway, it's scientific research. I do it under carefully controlled conditions.' 'Carefully controlled? I found it in the bathtub the other day!' 'That's right. I was testing the ghost's reaction to heat.' 'And to bubble bath? There were bubbles all over the jar. You put some nice soapy fragrance in that water, and...' I stared at him. 'Do you get in the tub with it, George?' His face flushed. 'No, I do not. Not as a rule. I - I was saving time. I was just getting in myself when it occurred to me I could do a useful experiment about the resistance of ectoplasm to warmth. I wanted to see if it would contract...' He waved his hands wildly in the air. 'Wait! Why am I explaining myself to *you*? You just unleashed a ghost in our house!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, 2003
A character rationalizes bizarre scientific experiments with a ghost, highlighting absurdity and overconfidence in pseudo‑science.
In simple terms: Someone justifies weird experiments with a ghost, showing overconfidence.
Question the logic behind reckless experimentation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- home experiment
- paranormal research
- lab safety
- ethical review
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of treating unknown phenomena as experiments?
- How does overconfidence affect scientific integrity?
The humor masks potential danger of careless scientific curiosity.