--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The aims of pure basic science, unlike…" description: "\"The aims of pure basic science, unlike those of applied science, are neither fast-flowing nor pragmatic. The quick harvest of applied science is the us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/lincoln-barnett-92176_accounts_the-aims-of-pure-basic-science-unlike-th_1305572.jpg" --- # The aims of pure basic science, unlike those of applied… ![“The aims of pure basic science, unlike those of applied science, are neither fast-flowing nor pragmatic. The quick harvest of applied science is the useable process, the medicine, the machine. The shy fruit of pure science is understanding.” quote by Lincoln Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/lincoln-barnett-92176_accounts_the-aims-of-pure-basic-science-unlike-th_1305572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/lincoln-barnett-92176_accounts_the-aims-of-pure-basic-science-unlike-th_1305572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/lincoln-barnett-92176_accounts_the-aims-of-pure-basic-science-unlike-th_1305572.jpg) > “The aims of pure basic science, unlike those of applied science, are neither fast-flowing nor pragmatic. The quick harvest of applied science is the useable process, the medicine, the machine. The shy fruit of pure science is understanding.” [Lincoln Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-barnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pure science seeks knowledge for its own sake, while applied science focuses on practical outcomes. **In simple terms:** Pure science values understanding; applied science values utility. Key Takeaway Balance curiosity with practical impact. Themes science knowledge pragmatism Mood analytical thoughtful Type accounts:0 aim:0 applied science:1 fruit:0 harvest:0 machines:0 medicine:0 pragmatic:0 process:0 pure:1 science:1 shy:0 understanding:1 basic science:1 pure science:1 science useable:0 aims pure:0 When to use this quote - academic research - technology development - policy making Key Concepts philosophy of science research methodology Questions to Reflect On - How to justify pure research? - When should applied goals dominate? A Different Perspective Pure research may lack immediate funding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Aims Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aims-pure-4302494/) [Applied science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applied-science/) [Basic Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-science-374703/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Harvest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvest/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Pragmatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pragmatic/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Pure Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-science-1495547/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Useable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-useable-4302493/) [Shy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shy/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [To feed applied science by starving basic science is like economising on the foundations of a building so that it may be built higher.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-porter/to-feed-applied-science-by-starving-basic-science-is-like-economising/) [George Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-porter/) > [If you sense a deep human need, then you go back to all the basic science. If there is some missing, then you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/if-you-sense-a-deep-human-need-then-you-go-back-to-all-the-basic/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [There is no such thing as applied science, only the application of pure science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/there-is-no-such-thing-as-applied-science-only-the-application-of/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [The purpose of pure science is to observe phenomena and to trace their laws; the purpose of art is to produce, modify, or destroy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-william-mellor/the-purpose-of-pure-science-is-to-observe-phenomena-and-to-trace/) [Joseph William Mellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-william-mellor/) > [Both pure and applied science have gradually pushed further and further the requirements for accuracy and precision. However, applied science, particularly in the mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-a-shewhart/both-pure-and-applied-science-have-gradually-pushed-further-and/) [Walter A. Shewhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-a-shewhart/) > [In this time of budget cuts, we cannot forget that basic science is a building block for scientific innovation and economic growth in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-bishop/in-this-time-of-budget-cuts-we-cannot-forget-that-basic-science-is-a/) [Tim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-bishop/) > [The basic science is not physics or mathematics but biology -- the study of life. We must learn to think both logically and bio-logically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/the-basic-science-is-not-physics-or-mathematics-but-biology-the-study/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [ Undeveloped though the science \[of chemistry\] is, it already has great power to bring benefits. Those accruing to physical welfare are readily recognized, as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-taube/undeveloped-though-the-science-of-chemistry-is-it-already-has-great/) [Henry Taube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-taube/) > [For me, the discovery of aquaporins was like a gift after 25 years in basic science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-agre/for-me-the-discovery-of-aquaporins-was-like-a-gift-after-25-years-in/) [Peter Agre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-agre/) > [Through basic science literacy, people can understand the policy choices we need to be making. Scientists are not necessarily the greatest communicators, but science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murdoch/through-basic-science-literacy-people-can-understand-the-policy/) [James Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murdoch/) > [I can't add. I don't understand basic science. Or anything else. But I can read anything. I've always been able to, and I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/i-can-t-add-i-don-t-understand-basic-science-or-anything-else-but-i/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [I think the days of the climate deniers are over. To deny basic science is to risk the trust of the general public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/i-think-the-days-of-the-climate-deniers-are-over-to-deny-basic/) [Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/) > [Whatever basic science resolves, at some stage it is of use to society. The problem is we do not know when or where.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-dieter-heuer/whatever-basic-science-resolves-at-some-stage-it-is-of-use-to-society/) [Rolf-Dieter Heuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-dieter-heuer/) > [And as we continue to improve our understanding of the basic science on which applications increasingly depend, material benefits of this and other kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-taube/and-as-we-continue-to-improve-our-understanding-of-the-basic-science/) [Henry Taube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-taube/) > [If you think about basic science or coming up with new theories of mathematics, these are not the kinds of things which are necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/if-you-think-about-basic-science-or-coming-up-with-new-theories-of/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) ## More by Lincoln Barnett > [The written word is the link between the past and the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-barnett/the-written-word-is-the-link-between-the-past-and-the-future/) [Lincoln Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-barnett/) [Explore all 2 Lincoln Barnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-barnett/) ## More Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. 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