Artist Quote by Lewis Thomas
“Science will...produce the data..., but never the full meaning. For perceiving real significance, we shall need...most of all the brains of poets, [and] also those of artists, musicians, philosophers, historians, writers in general.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Lives of a Cell, 1974
Science yields data but not meaning; poets, artists, and thinkers are needed to interpret significance.
In simple terms: Data alone isn’t enough; we need creative insight.
Value interdisciplinary perspectives for meaning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research analysis
- artistic collaboration
- public communication
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do artists contribute to scientific understanding?
- What balance between data and interpretation is ideal?
May underplay scientific rigor.