---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The advance of science spares us from…"
description: "\"The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.\" — Martin Rees"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/martin-rees-3002_advance_the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-ir_21303.jpg"
---

#  The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.

![“The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.” quote by Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/martin-rees-3002_advance_the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-ir_21303.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/martin-rees-3002_advance_the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-ir_21303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/martin-rees-3002_advance_the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-ir_21303.jpg)

> “The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.”

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Science reduces fear by replacing unfounded anxieties with evidence‑based understanding.

**In simple terms:** Science calms irrational fear.

Key Takeaway

Knowledge dispels baseless dread.

Themes

rationality knowledge fear progress epistemology

Mood

reassuring inquisitive

Type

aphoristic philosophical

When to use this quote

- facing new technologies
- encountering unknown phenomena
- public health crises
- environmental change

Key Concepts

science human cognition uncertainty

Practical Applications

- science communication
- policy making

Questions to Reflect On

- How does evidence change our emotional response?
- What fears persist despite scientific explanations?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/)

## Related quotes

> [“rushing back to him in an instant, and with it came that awful feeling of gut-wrenching fear and foreboding with which he’d awakened each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-harmon/rushing-back-to-him-in-an-instant-and-with-it-came-that-awful-feeling/)

[Brian Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-harmon/)

> [No great advance has been made in science, politics, or religion without controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-beecher/no-great-advance-has-been-made-in-science-politics-or-religion/)

[Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-beecher/)

> [The practical case for manned spacef light gets ever-weaker with each advance in robots and miniaturisation - indeed, as a scientist or practical man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-practical-case-for-manned-spacef-light-gets-ever-weaker-with-each/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [Thoroughly conscious ignorance is the prelude to every real advance in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/thoroughly-conscious-ignorance-is-the-prelude-to-every-real-advance/)

[James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/)

> [Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/every-great-advance-in-science-has-issued-from-a-new-audacity-of-2/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [“Why not advance science in its most difficult and vital aspect, the knowledge of the brain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/why-not-advance-science-in-its-most-difficult-and-vital-aspect-the/)

[Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/)

> [Imagination is as vital to any advance in science as learning and precision are essential for starting points. Let me warn you to beware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percival-lowell/imagination-is-as-vital-to-any-advance-in-science-as-learning-and-2/)

[Percival Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percival-lowell/)

> [No great advance has ever been made in science, politics, or religion, without controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-beecher/no-great-advance-has-ever-been-made-in-science-politics-or-religion/)

[Lyman Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-beecher/)

> [It's important to be able to simply ask the questions. Every single advance in science comes about because of courage to ask a question,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-mctaggart/it-s-important-to-be-able-to-simply-ask-the-questions-every-single/)

[Lynne McTaggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-mctaggart/)

> [Imagination is as vital to any advance in science as learning and precision are essential for starting points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percival-lowell/imagination-is-as-vital-to-any-advance-in-science-as-learning-and/)

[Percival Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percival-lowell/)

> [Ever since the beginning of modern science, the best minds have recognized that "the range of acknowledged ignorance will grow with the advance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/ever-since-the-beginning-of-modern-science-the-best-minds-have/)

[Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/)

> [I would say keep supporting space flight, keep telling the public and the politicians why it's important to advance science and explore the galaxy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-would-say-keep-supporting-space-flight-keep-telling-the-public-and/)

[Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/)

> [To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/to-raise-new-questions-new-possibilities-to-regard-old-problems-from/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Writers don't seem to benefit much by the advance of science, although they thrive on superstitions of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/writers-don-t-seem-to-benefit-much-by-the-advance-of-science-although/)

[Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/)

> [ “Every advance \[in Science\] will most likely tell us as much about ourselves as it will about the universe we inhabit. We are all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brooks/every-advance-in-science-will-most-likely-tell-us-as-much-about/)

[Michael Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brooks/)

## More by Martin Rees

> [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [“The Sun contains about a thousand times more mass than Jupiter. If it were cold, gravity would squeeze it a million times denser than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-sun-contains-about-a-thousand-times-more-mass-than-jupiter-if-it/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [“We, and the visible universe around us, may exist only because of a difference in the ninth decimal place between the numbers of quarks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/we-and-the-visible-universe-around-us-may-exist-only-because-of-a/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [Crucial to science education is hands-on involvement: showing, not just telling; real experiments and field trips and not just 'virtual reality.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/crucial-to-science-education-is-hands-on-involvement-showing-not-just/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [I have no religious belief myself, but I don't think we should fight about it. In particular, I think that we should not rubbish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/i-have-no-religious-belief-myself-but-i-don-t-think-we-should-fight/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [“More energy is needed to rise a millimetre above a neutron star's surface than to break completely free of Earth's gravity. A pen dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/more-energy-is-needed-to-rise-a-millimetre-above-a-neutron-star-s/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [The next humans to walk on the moon may be Chinese. Only China seems to have the resources, the dirigiste government, and the willingness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-next-humans-to-walk-on-the-moon-may-be-chinese-only-china-seems/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [If we ever established contact with intelligent life on another world, there would be barriers to communication. First, they would be many light years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/if-we-ever-established-contact-with-intelligent-life-on-another-world/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [There is an ever-widening gap between what science allows and what we should actually do. There are many doors science can open that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/there-is-an-ever-widening-gap-between-what-science-allows-and-what-we/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [An insect is more complex than a star..and is a far greater challenge to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/an-insect-is-more-complex-than-a-star-and-is-a-far-greater-challenge/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [The physicist is like someone who's watching people playing chess and, after watching a few games, he may have worked out what the moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-physicist-is-like-someone-who-s-watching-people-playing-chess-and/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [We are 'nuclear waste' from the fuel that makes stars shine; indeed, each of us contains atoms whose provenance can be traced back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/we-are-nuclear-waste-from-the-fuel-that-makes-stars-shine-indeed-each/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [Just as there are many Jews who keep the Friday ritual in their home despite describing themselves as atheists, I am a 'tribal Christian,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/just-as-there-are-many-jews-who-keep-the-friday-ritual-in-their-home/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [In this century, not only has science changed the world faster than ever, but in new and different ways. Targeted drugs, genetic modification, artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/in-this-century-not-only-has-science-changed-the-world-faster-than/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

[Explore all 143 Martin Rees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

## More Advance quotes

> [I don't think we should tell them what we're going to do in advance. Let them think. Worry. Wonder. Uncertainty is the most chilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-a-walters/i-don-t-think-we-should-tell-them-what-we-re-going-to-do-in-advance/)

[Vernon A. Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-a-walters/)

> [It's more common than not that bipolar illness will start in the teens. One of the reasons I spend a lot of time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/it-s-more-common-than-not-that-bipolar-illness-will-start-in-the/)

[Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/)

> [Some companies out there quote a start of production that is substantially in advance of when customers get their cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/some-companies-out-there-quote-a-start-of-production-that-is/)

[Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/)

> [My priority in life is my whanau, followed by my work as an artist, which has blessed me with the ability to provide opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/my-priority-in-life-is-my-whanau-followed-by-my-work-as-an-artist/)

[Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/)

> [Others have said it before me. If you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu. And so it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/others-have-said-it-before-me-if-you-don-t-have-a-seat-at-the-table/)

[Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/)

> [What I have in advance are people I want to write about and a problem or problems that I see those people encountering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/what-i-have-in-advance-are-people-i-want-to-write-about-and-a-problem/)

[Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/)

> [Error is discipline through which we advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/error-is-discipline-through-which-we-advance/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [I think it's important to earn your fan base and not just try to immediately advance to the top. If you ride to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-think-it-s-important-to-earn-your-fan-base-and-not-just-try-to/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [The Chinese public is deeply nationalist, which matters to China's unelected political leadership as much as U.S. nationalism does to American politicians. As China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-chinese-public-is-deeply-nationalist-which-matters-to-china-s/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [Some might complain that nuclear disarmament is little more than a dream. But that ignores the very tangible benefits disarmament would bring for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/some-might-complain-that-nuclear-disarmament-is-little-more-than-a/)

[Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/)

> [Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/let-our-advance-worrying-become-advance-thinking-and-planning/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [Let us not bankrupt our todays by paying interest on the regrets of yesterday and by borrowing in advance the troubles of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-sockman-2/let-us-not-bankrupt-our-todays-by-paying-interest-on-the-regrets-of/)

Ralph W. Sockman

> [In times of failing health, don't hopelessly pray for the intervention of a mythical god; wish hopefully for an advance in medical science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/in-times-of-failing-health-don-t-hopelessly-pray-for-the-intervention/)

[Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/)

> [Clearly, unless thinking beings inevitably wipe themselves out soon after developing technology, extraterrestrial intelligence could often be millions or billions of years in advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/clearly-unless-thinking-beings-inevitably-wipe-themselves-out-soon/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [“Leaders think in advance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/leaders-think-in-advance/)

[Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/)

Browse all 263 Advance quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martin Rees"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-irrational-dread/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-irrational-dread/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/martin-rees-3002_advance_the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-ir_21303.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/martin-rees-3002_advance_the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-ir_21303.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/martin-rees-3002_advance_the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-ir_21303.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.” — Martin Rees",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Martin Rees",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The advance of science spares us...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-irrational-dread/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-irrational-dread/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
