Animal Quote by Lawrence M. Krauss
““A physicist, an engineer and a psychologist are called in as consultants to a dairy farm whose production has been below par. Each is given time to inspect the details of the operation before making a report. The first to be called is the engineer, who states: "The size of the stalls for the cattle should be decreased. Efficiency could be improved if the cows were more closely packed, with a net allotment of 275 cubic feet per cow. Also, the diameter of the milking tubes should be increased by 4 percent to allow for a greater average flow rate during the milking periods." The next to report is the psychologist, who proposes: "The inside of the barn should be painted green. This is a more mellow color than brown and should help induce greater milk flow. Also, more trees should be planted in the fields to add diversity to the scenery for the cattle during grazing, to reduce boredom." Finally, the physicist is called upon. He asks for a blackboard and then draws a circle. He begins: "Assume the cow is a sphere…””
About This Quote
Different experts propose varied solutions to a problem, but the physicist’s abstract model reminds us that simplifying assumptions can reveal underlying principles.
In simple terms: Experts give concrete fixes; physicist simplifies to basics.
Key Takeaway
Use abstraction to understand core issues.
Themes
problem solving
interdisciplinary
abstraction
modeling
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- education
- science communication
Key Concepts
systems thinking
physics
engineering
Questions to Reflect On
- When is abstraction helpful?
- What details might be lost?
A Different Perspective
Over‑simplification may ignore practical constraints.
