Discovery Quote by Leon M. Lederman
“Particle physics suffers more from being infected by the socio-political mood of the day than from lack of spectacular opportunities for major and profound discoveries.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture on science policy, 1990s
Scientific progress is hindered more by prevailing political attitudes than by a lack of research opportunities.
In simple terms: Politics can block science more than resources.
Key Takeaway
Beware political bias in research funding.
Themes
science policy
politics
research funding
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- grant applications
- policy advocacy
- public outreach
- academic hiring
Key Concepts
sociology of science
institutional bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can scientists protect their work from political swings?
- What mechanisms ensure objective funding decisions?
A Different Perspective
Political climate can shift, making long‑term planning difficult.
![“[When asked "Dr. Einstein, why is it that when the mind of man has stretched so far as to discover the structure of the atom we have been unable to devise the political means to keep the atom from destroying us?"] That is simple, my friend. It is because politics is more difficult than physics.” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae7/albert-einstein-33_atoms_when-asked-dr-einstein-why-is-it-that-wh_2644682.jpg)
![“[On the practical applications of particle physics research with the Large Hadron Collider.] Sometimes the public says, 'What's in it for Numero Uno? Am I going to get better television reception? Am I going to get better Internet reception?' Well, in some sense, yeah. ... All the wonders of…” quote by Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c0a/michio-kaku-907_atom-smasher_on-the-practical-applications-of-particl_618982.jpg)
![“He [Democritus] is probably best known for two of the most scientifically intuitive quotes ever uttered by an ancient: 'Nothing exists except atoms and space, everything else is opinion'…” quote by Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/28a/leon-m-lederman-20865_ancient_he-democritus-is-probably-best-known-for_83611.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
![“That has been another interesting discovery: that basically a city [Lagos] could recover from a really deep, deep, deep pit.” quote by Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/61e/rem-koolhaas-5371_cities_that-has-been-another-interesting-discov_15915.jpg)
