--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of science started off as magic…" description: "\"A lot of science started off as magic, where people were burned at the stake for doing science basically.\" — Larry Wilmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/larry-wilmore-3223_burned_a-lot-of-science-started-off-as-magic-wh_705082.jpg" --- # A lot of science started off as magic, where people were… ![“A lot of science started off as magic, where people were burned at the stake for doing science basically.” quote by Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/larry-wilmore-3223_burned_a-lot-of-science-started-off-as-magic-wh_705082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/larry-wilmore-3223_burned_a-lot-of-science-started-off-as-magic-wh_705082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/larry-wilmore-3223_burned_a-lot-of-science-started-off-as-magic-wh_705082.jpg) > “A lot of science started off as magic, where people were burned at the stake for doing science basically.” [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science was once mystified and punished, but curiosity drives progress despite fear. **In simple terms:** Science once seemed magical and dangerous. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity, even when misunderstood. Themes innovation risk curiosity Mood thoughtful critical Type historical motivational When to use this quote - research labs - public outreach - education reform - policy debates Key Concepts scientific method social fear Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect innovators from backlash? - What role should public perception play? A Different Perspective Societal resistance can stifle scientific advancement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burned/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Burned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-burned-579276/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-basically-2675380/) [Science Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-started-261106/) [Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes/) [Started Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-magic-5574505/) ## Related quotes > [Science is basically an inoculation against charlatans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-is-basically-an-inoculation-against-charlatans/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I wanted to write about the time when science became modern, around the 1950s. 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Robert Oppenheimer, science started being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanya-yanagihara/i-wanted-to-write-about-the-time-when-science-became-modern-around/) [Hanya Yanagihara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanya-yanagihara/) > [Modern political science started in the late nineteenth century as a branch of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/modern-political-science-started-in-the-late-nineteenth-century-as-a/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [“The truth is that science started its modern career by taking over ideas derived from the weakest side of the philosophies of Aristotle's successors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-truth-is-that-science-started-its-modern-career-by-taking-over/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“So the cold barracks were spared, lonely as they were, and the armories were unscathed, empty as they were, and the larders went unmolested,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-s-elton/so-the-cold-barracks-were-spared-lonely-as-they-were-and-the-armories/) [Mike S. 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Being superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-jesuits-were-quite-balked-by-those-indians-who-being-burned-at/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“What about stakes in the heart?" I asked now. He frowned, the center of his mouth pursed while its corners curled downward. "Anyone will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hubbard/what-about-stakes-in-the-heart-i-asked-now-he-frowned-the-center-of/) [Susan Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-hubbard/) ## More by Larry Wilmore > [As a culture, we've all agreed with the opinion that the world should be seen in a certain way, so at 'The Nightly Show,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/as-a-culture-we-ve-all-agreed-with-the-opinion-that-the-world-should/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [Catholic and Jew - it's very closely related, a lot of holidays, a lot of guilt, a lot of the same things going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/catholic-and-jew-it-s-very-closely-related-a-lot-of-holidays-a-lot-of/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [Even though you're in charge you're not completely in ownership. You know, the audience takes a huge ownership of your show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/even-though-you-re-in-charge-you-re-not-completely-in-ownership-you/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [When you work in television you're in the writer's room all the time. You can't take 10 days or a week to go watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/when-you-work-in-television-you-re-in-the-writer-s-room-all-the-time/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I was taught from a very early age that I had to work twice as hard to get half as much. 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People get to choose whether or not to laugh and whether or not they think something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/you-never-want-to-defend-a-joke-people-get-to-choose-whether-or-not/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I really don't have a need to be on TV all that much, to be honest with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/i-really-don-t-have-a-need-to-be-on-tv-all-that-much-to-be-honest/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [There's a lot of magic in science, so to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/there-s-a-lot-of-magic-in-science-so-to-speak/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [When you're taking chances, you know it's not going to please everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/when-you-re-taking-chances-you-know-it-s-not-going-to-please-everybody/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I didn't get into comedy to talk about violent death all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/i-didn-t-get-into-comedy-to-talk-about-violent-death-all-the-time/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I was an athlete, so I hung out with the jocks. I was smart, so I hung out with the nerdy kids. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/i-was-an-athlete-so-i-hung-out-with-the-jocks-i-was-smart-so-i-hung/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [My parents are from the Midwest. They're from Evanston, Illinois. They moved out to Los Angeles right before I was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/my-parents-are-from-the-midwest-they-re-from-evanston-illinois-they/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I really love having conversations and deconstructing things. I don't mind not having a laugh every second. Sometimes things deserve a little more discussion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/i-really-love-having-conversations-and-deconstructing-things-i-don-t/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [Sometimes I'd say what's bad for the country is good for my business, unfortunately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/sometimes-i-d-say-what-s-bad-for-the-country-is-good-for-my-business/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) [Explore all 136 Larry Wilmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) ## More Burned quotes > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) [Heidi Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ames/) > [These mercenaries, I swear by God, those who are still in Washington, they have sent their troops to be burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/these-mercenaries-i-swear-by-god-those-who-are-still-in-washington/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. 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