--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some scientists find, or so it seems…" description: "\"Some scientists find, or so it seems, that they get their best ideas when smoking; others by drinking coffee or whisky. Thus there is no reason why I s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/karl-popper-2167_coffee_some-scientists-find-or-so-it-seems-that_912278.jpg" --- # Some scientists find, or so it seems, that they get their… ![“Some scientists find, or so it seems, that they get their best ideas when smoking; others by drinking coffee or whisky. Thus there is no reason why I should not admit that some may get their ideas by observing, or by repeating observations.” quote by Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/karl-popper-2167_coffee_some-scientists-find-or-so-it-seems-that_912278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/karl-popper-2167_coffee_some-scientists-find-or-so-it-seems-that_912278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/karl-popper-2167_coffee_some-scientists-find-or-so-it-seems-that_912278.jpg) > “Some scientists find, or so it seems, that they get their best ideas when smoking; others by drinking coffee or whisky. Thus there is no reason why I should not admit that some may get their ideas by observing, or by repeating observations.” [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative insight often emerges from habits like smoking, coffee, or whisky, but observation and repetition also spark ideas. **In simple terms:** Ideas can come from many habits or simple observation. Key Takeaway Explore diverse routines for ideas. Themes creativity habits observation Mood curious analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research work - artistic creation - problem solving - daily routines Key Concepts cognitive science innovation Questions to Reflect On - Do you have a habit that fuels your ideas? - Can you replace a substance habit with a healthier one? A Different Perspective Relying on substances may create dependency and limit sustainable creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Drinking coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking-coffee/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) [Whisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whisky/) ## Related quotes > [I admit that some of my ideas may have turned out to be pessimistic in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/i-admit-that-some-of-my-ideas-may-have-turned-out-to-be-pessimistic/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [“The big boys have got their feet up on their desks, drinking coffee and admiring the pretty ankles of their secretaries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-big-boys-have-got-their-feet-up-on-their-desks-drinking-coffee/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [You're Drinking Too Much Coffee When You help your dog chase its tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/you-re-drinking-too-much-coffee-when-you-help-your-dog-chase-its-tail/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [That's what I would like to do until the end of time, to go on scribbling my articles on the third floor of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/that-s-what-i-would-like-to-do-until-the-end-of-time-to-go-on/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [You're Drinking Too Much Coffee When You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/you-re-drinking-too-much-coffee-when-you-have-a-picture-of-your/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“If, by the virtue of charity or the circumstance of desperation, you ever chance to spend a little time around a Substance-recovery halfway facility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/if-by-the-virtue-of-charity-or-the-circumstance-of-desperation-you/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [The powers of a man's mind are directly proportional to the quantity of coffee he drank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mackintosh/the-powers-of-a-man-s-mind-are-directly-proportional-to-the-quantity/) [James Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mackintosh/) > [“More proof that Lynn is still meant to continue with the government programme occurred during the winter of 2000, when she was sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hersha/more-proof-that-lynn-is-still-meant-to-continue-with-the-government/) [Lynn Hersha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hersha/) > [“I've seen some very bad things this year, most of them when I was distracted. 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It's a lot more than just a drink; it's something happening.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/coffee-is-real-good-when-you-drink-it-gives-you-time-to-think-it-s-a/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [You're Drinking Too Much Coffee When You soak your dentures in coffee overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/you-re-drinking-too-much-coffee-when-you-soak-your-dentures-in-coffee/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Coffee - the favorite drink of the civilized world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/coffee-the-favorite-drink-of-the-civilized-world/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Design is all about relationships. Unfortunately, many designers don’t fully appreciate this. Some of the best design work I’ve ever done was drinking coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-burka/design-is-all-about-relationships-unfortunately-many-designers-don-t/) Daniel Burka ## More by Karl Popper > [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/) > [“As indicated by our example, methodological nominalism is nowadays fairly generally accepted in the natural sciences. 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One might think that it is a matter of choice or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/i-am-opposed-to-looking-upon-logic-as-a-kind-of-game-one-might-think/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-history-of-science-like-the-history-of-all-human-ideas-is-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Good tests kill flawed theories; we remain alive to guess again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/good-tests-kill-flawed-theories-we-remain-alive-to-guess-again/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [There is no pure, disinterested, theory-free observation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/there-is-no-pure-disinterested-theory-free-observation/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [We have the right not to tolerate the intolerant. 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