Age Quote by Lewis Thomas
“The literature has become too vast to comprehend...It is...difficult to grasp even for workers in closely neighboring fields. ...There is much more reliance on word of mouth for the transmission of scientific data...gossip.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Lives of a Cell, 1974
The explosion of literature makes it hard for specialists to stay current, leading to reliance on informal communication like gossip.
In simple terms: Too much info overwhelms experts.
Key Takeaway
Seek reliable sources and concise summaries.
Themes
information overload
interdisciplinary
communication
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
academic
observational
When to use this quote
- research
- teaching
- policy making
- media consumption
Key Concepts
knowledge management
academic silos
Questions to Reflect On
- How can scholars keep up without gossip?
- What tools aid interdisciplinary understanding?
A Different Perspective
Informal channels can spread inaccuracies.
