--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The scientist knows very well that he is…" description: "\"The scientist knows very well that he is approaching ultimate truth only in an asymptotic curve and is barred from ever reaching it; but at the same ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/konrad-lorenz-8538_ability_the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is_1851911.jpg" --- # The scientist knows very well that he is approaching… ![“The scientist knows very well that he is approaching ultimate truth only in an asymptotic curve and is barred from ever reaching it; but at the same time he is proudly aware of being indeed able to determine whether a statement is a nearer or a less near approach to the truth.” quote by Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/konrad-lorenz-8538_ability_the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is_1851911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/konrad-lorenz-8538_ability_the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is_1851911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/konrad-lorenz-8538_ability_the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is_1851911.jpg) > “The scientist knows very well that he is approaching ultimate truth only in an asymptotic curve and is barred from ever reaching it; but at the same time he is proudly aware of being indeed able to determine whether a statement is a nearer or a less near approach to the truth.” [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science progresses by ever‑closer approximations, never absolute certainty, yet we can judge relative closeness to truth. **In simple terms:** Science gets closer but never fully reaches truth. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty, value comparative insight. Themes science philosophy truth knowledge Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - research - education - policy making - public communication Key Concepts asymptotic approximation epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How do we act on provisional truths? - When is approximation enough? A Different Perspective Limits of knowledge can hinder decisive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Curves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curves/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Approaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-approaching-2434578/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Scientist Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist-knows-2434575/) [Statement Nearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statement-nearer-2434577/) [Statements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statements/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Asymptotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-asymptotic-2434576/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Ultimate truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-truth/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [The scientist knows that the ultimate of everything is unknowable. No matter What subject you take, the current theory of it if carried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-proteus-steinmetz/the-scientist-knows-that-the-ultimate-of-everything-is-unknowable-no/) [Charles Proteus Steinmetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-proteus-steinmetz/) > [“Rees, the secret of a Scientist is not what he knows. It’s what he asks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-baxter/rees-the-secret-of-a-scientist-is-not-what-he-knows-it-s-what-he-asks/) [Stephen Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-baxter/) > [Al Gore is not just whistling in the wind. Global warming is for real. Every scientist knows that now, and we are on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-c-sorensen/al-gore-is-not-just-whistling-in-the-wind-global-warming-is-for-real/) [Theodore C. Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-c-sorensen/) > [There is more in this heaven and earth than what the scientist knows and is revealed in the x-ray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/there-is-more-in-this-heaven-and-earth-than-what-the-scientist-knows/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [Love is the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe and transcends all boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/love-is-the-ultimate-truth-at-the-heart-of-the-universe-and/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“A man craves ultimate truths. Every mortal mind, I think, is that way. But what is ultimate truth? It's the end of the road,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-lem/a-man-craves-ultimate-truths-every-mortal-mind-i-think-is-that-way/) [Stanisław Lem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-lem/) > [The ultimate freedom depends on knowing the ultimate Truth. Truth is not what people say it is, it is what it is. And Truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/the-ultimate-freedom-depends-on-knowing-the-ultimate-truth-truth-is/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [The ultimate truth is penultimately always a falsehood. He who will be proved right in the end appears to be wrong and harmful before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-ultimate-truth-is-penultimately-always-a-falsehood-he-who-will-be/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“Confucius, Lao Tsz, and Shakya, however, were all the wisest of sages. Each of them gave his teachings in a way different from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/confucius-lao-tsz-and-shakya-however-were-all-the-wisest-of-sages/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Standards are different for all things, so the standard set by man is by no means the only 'certain' standard. If you mistake what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/standards-are-different-for-all-things-so-the-standard-set-by-man-is/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“Spiritualism is not Religion: It does not divide, it unites; It advocates oneness of spirit with the universe; It involves knowing the ultimate truth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-kumar/spiritualism-is-not-religion-it-does-not-divide-it-unites-it/) [Gian Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-kumar/) > [ “To be more precise... death is \[contrary to\] God, and if death is natural, if it is the ultimate truth about life and about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-schmemann/to-be-more-precise-death-is-contrary-to-god-and-if-death-is-natural/) [Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-schmemann/) > [At a certain point, I felt the need to submit to a higher level of religiosity to move away from my intuition and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/at-a-certain-point-i-felt-the-need-to-submit-to-a-higher-level-of/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/if-they-are-then-the-only-ultimate-truths-are-the-particulars-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [Silence tells the seeker in us to love, to love himself. It tells us it is wrong to hate ourselves because of our imperfections.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/silence-tells-the-seeker-in-us-to-love-to-love-himself-it-tells-us-it/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) ## More by Konrad Lorenz > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I owe undying gratitude to my patient parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-owe-undying-gratitude-to-my-patient-parents/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [It is a good morning exercise for a research scientist to discard a pet hypothesis every day before breakfast. It keeps him young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/it-is-a-good-morning-exercise-for-a-research-scientist-to-discard-a/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > ['I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-don-t-need-brains-says-the-billionaire-contemptuously-i-m-brainy/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I have found the missing link between the higher ape and civilized man; it is we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-have-found-the-missing-link-between-the-higher-ape-and-civilized/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/the-fidelity-of-a-dog-is-a-precious-gift/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Whenever we find, in two forms of life that are unrelated to each other, a similarity of form or of behaviour patterns which relates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/whenever-we-find-in-two-forms-of-life-that-are-unrelated-to-each/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [...he who has seen the intimate beauty of nature cannot tear himself away from it again. He must become either a poet or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/he-who-has-seen-the-intimate-beauty-of-nature-cannot-tear-himself/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [We had better dispense with the personification of evil, because it leads, all too easily, to the most dangerous kind of war: religious war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/we-had-better-dispense-with-the-personification-of-evil-because-it/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If you confine yourself to this Skinnerian technique, you study nothing but the learning apparatus and you leave out everything that is different in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/if-you-confine-yourself-to-this-skinnerian-technique-you-study/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [All scientific knowledge to which man owes his role as master of the world arose from playful activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/all-scientific-knowledge-to-which-man-owes-his-role-as-master-of-the/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [All the advantages that man has gained from his ever-deepening understanding of the natural world that surrounds him, his technological, chemical and medical progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/all-the-advantages-that-man-has-gained-from-his-ever-deepening/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Truth in science can be defined as the working hypothesis best suited to open the way to the next better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/truth-in-science-can-be-defined-as-the-working-hypothesis-best-suited/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“Every scientist should, after all, regard it as his duty to tell the public, in a generally intelligible way, about what he is doing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/every-scientist-should-after-all-regard-it-as-his-duty-to-tell-the/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I consider early childhood events as most essential to a man's scientific and philosophical development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-consider-early-childhood-events-as-most-essential-to-a-man-s/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) [Explore all 78 Konrad Lorenz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The scientist knows very well that he is approaching ultimate truth only in an asymptotic curve and is barred from ever reaching it; but at the same time he is proudly aware of being indeed able to determine whether a statement is a nearer or a less near approach to the truth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Konrad Lorenz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is-approaching-ultimate-truth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is-approaching-ultimate-truth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/konrad-lorenz-8538_ability_the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is_1851911.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/konrad-lorenz-8538_ability_the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is_1851911.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/256/konrad-lorenz-8538_ability_the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is_1851911.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The scientist knows very well that he is approaching ultimate truth only in an asymptotic curve and is…” — Konrad Lorenz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Konrad Lorenz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The scientist knows very well that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is-approaching-ultimate-truth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/the-scientist-knows-very-well-that-he-is-approaching-ultimate-truth/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```