--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The goal is to be as neutral, as…" description: "\"“The goal is to be as neutral, as analytical—as “Mr. Spock”—as possible. This perhaps explains how it was possible for a team of Canadian researchers t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/mary-roach-635_cat-food_the-goal-is-to-be-as-neutral-as-analytic_2373854.jpg" --- # The goal is to be as neutral, as analytical—as “Mr… ![“The goal is to be as neutral, as analytical—as “Mr. Spock”—as possible. This perhaps explains how it was possible for a team of Canadian researchers to find nine men and women willing to create a canned-cat-food flavor lexicon and a set of tasting protocols. For humans. Tasting cat food. And they…” quote by Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/mary-roach-635_cat-food_the-goal-is-to-be-as-neutral-as-analytic_2373854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/mary-roach-635_cat-food_the-goal-is-to-be-as-neutral-as-analytic_2373854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/mary-roach-635_cat-food_the-goal-is-to-be-as-neutral-as-analytic_2373854.jpg) > ““The goal is to be as neutral, as analytical—as “Mr. Spock”—as possible. This perhaps explains how it was possible for a team of Canadian researchers to find nine men and women willing to create a canned-cat-food flavor lexicon and a set of tasting protocols. For humans. Tasting cat food. And they couldn’t be shy about it. The protocol for evaluating the “meat chunk” portion (“gravy gel” having its own distinct protocol) stipulated that the sample be “moved around mouth and chewed for 10 to 15 seconds, \[and\] a portion of the sample swallowed.”” [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the importance of extreme objectivity and scientific rigor, even in absurd or uncomfortable research contexts. **In simple terms:** Be completely neutral and analytical in research. Key Takeaway Adopt a detached, methodical approach. Themes objectivity science humor Mood curious analytical lighthearted Type observational humorous When to use this quote - food science studies - psychology experiments - human behavior research - unusual sensory tests Key Concepts experimental design sensory evaluation ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does neutrality affect data interpretation? - When is humor appropriate in scientific work? A Different Perspective Objectivity may overlook emotional or ethical nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) ## Related quotes > [“Thanks to this unusual data set, we now know that humans prefer cat food with a tuna or herbal flavor over cat food with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/thanks-to-this-unusual-data-set-we-now-know-that-humans-prefer-cat/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [ I want to teach \[people\] the secret of great visual presentation. Your stomach sees the food first, and I want to help them match… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-puck/i-want-to-teach-people-the-secret-of-great-visual-presentation-your/) [Wolfgang Puck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-puck/) > [“panel applicants at the initial screening were asked not only to describe the cat foods but also to rate them according to how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/panel-applicants-at-the-initial-screening-were-asked-not-only-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I have a fear of poverty in old age. I have this vision of myself living in a skip and eating cat food. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-eclair/i-have-a-fear-of-poverty-in-old-age-i-have-this-vision-of-myself/) [Jenny Eclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-eclair/) > [I can be singing about cat food and I'll make you think that I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/i-can-be-singing-about-cat-food-and-i-ll-make-you-think-that-i-mean-it/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [“There’s a can of cat food and a spoon on the floor somewhere. Take it out back and bang on it. My cat’s still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dugoni/there-s-a-can-of-cat-food-and-a-spoon-on-the-floor-somewhere-take-it/) [Robert Dugoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dugoni/) > [I just try to do things that I would like to see,to do stuff I would enjoy doing. Is it going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-just-try-to-do-things-that-i-would-like-to-see-to-do-stuff-i-would/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [“The way she looks right now, you have to think about multiple car pile-ups. Imagine two bloodmobiles colliding head on. The way she looks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-way-she-looks-right-now-you-have-to-think-about-multiple-car-pile/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [If you think cat food is for cats, how come it doesn't come in mouse flavor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-think-cat-food-is-for-cats-how-come-it-doesn-t-come-in-mouse/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [You have to ask yourself, what are the things that matter to you most in your life? If you have to have a latte…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-bernstein/you-have-to-ask-yourself-what-are-the-things-that-matter-to-you-most/) [William J. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-bernstein/) > [“This might work. We might survive. We might not have to eat cat food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/this-might-work-we-might-survive-we-might-not-have-to-eat-cat-food/) [K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/) > [Why don't they just make mouse-flavored cat food?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-don-t-they-just-make-mouse-flavored-cat-food/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“You must have six boxes of cat food in that cupboard." "Moshe gets cranky if I don't keep a variety." After tasking his breakfast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-must-have-six-boxes-of-cat-food-in-that-cupboard-moshe-gets/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I know it's not cat food, but what exactly is it that they put inside of tinned ravioli?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-know-it-s-not-cat-food-but-what-exactly-is-it-that-they-put-inside/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“I am not a fan of supermarkets and I hate shopping there, even for things I can't get elsewhere, like cat food and bin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-am-not-a-fan-of-supermarkets-and-i-hate-shopping-there-even-for/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) ## More by Mary Roach > [“Rawson points out that although snakes can’t taste, they have a primitive sense of smell. They’ll extend their tongue to gather volatile molecules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/rawson-points-out-that-although-snakes-can-t-taste-they-have-a/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“As the number of Inuit who hunt has dwindled, so has the consumption of organs (and other anatomy not available for purchase at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/as-the-number-of-inuit-who-hunt-has-dwindled-so-has-the-consumption/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [To me, death is dark, pain, grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/to-me-death-is-dark-pain-grief/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“If you look at survivable crashes, it’s rare that even half the emergency exits open,” says Shanahan. “Plus, there’s a lot of panic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/if-you-look-at-survivable-crashes-it-s-rare-that-even-half-the/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“…he was doing a breath hydrogen test. If you know the amount of hydrogen someone is exhaling orally, it's a simple matter to extrapolate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/he-was-doing-a-breath-hydrogen-test-if-you-know-the-amount-of/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“Viagra isn't the only drug being prescribed off-label for women with arousal problems. Los Angeles urologist Jennifer Berman told me some doctors are prescribing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/viagra-isn-t-the-only-drug-being-prescribed-off-label-for-women-with/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Sharing a room with a cadaver is only mildly different from being in a room alone. They are the same sort of company as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/sharing-a-room-with-a-cadaver-is-only-mildly-different-from-being-in/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Every now and then, someone will tell me that one of my books has made them laugh out loud. I never believe them because:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/every-now-and-then-someone-will-tell-me-that-one-of-my-books-has-made/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“panel applicants at the initial screening were asked not only to describe the cat foods but also to rate them according to how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/panel-applicants-at-the-initial-screening-were-asked-not-only-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“\* Kissing is a less aggressive form of bacterial transplant. Studies of three different gingivitis-causing bacteria have documented migration from spouse to spouse. Periodontically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/kissing-is-a-less-aggressive-form-of-bacterial-transplant-studies-of/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“Nirlungayuk reached a similar conclusion. I tracked him down, seventeen years later, and asked him what the outcome of his country-foods campaign had been.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/nirlungayuk-reached-a-similar-conclusion-i-tracked-him-down-seventeen/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Astronauts are like these mythic legends, but really, they are just regular people, people who wear chinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/astronauts-are-like-these-mythic-legends-but-really-they-are-just/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“Olive trees grow in the same climate and soil conditions as grapes. The olive oil people have been up in Napa Valley all along,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/olive-trees-grow-in-the-same-climate-and-soil-conditions-as-grapes/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“A patient on the way to surgery travels at twice the speed of a patient on the way to the morgue. Gurneys that ferry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/a-patient-on-the-way-to-surgery-travels-at-twice-the-speed-of-a/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) [Explore all 435 Mary Roach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) ## More Cat food quotes > [“panel applicants at the initial screening were asked not only to describe the cat foods but also to rate them according to how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/panel-applicants-at-the-initial-screening-were-asked-not-only-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I can be singing about cat food and I'll make you think that I mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/i-can-be-singing-about-cat-food-and-i-ll-make-you-think-that-i-mean-it/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [“This might work. We might survive. We might not have to eat cat food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/this-might-work-we-might-survive-we-might-not-have-to-eat-cat-food/) [K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/) > [I have a fear of poverty in old age. I have this vision of myself living in a skip and eating cat food. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-eclair/i-have-a-fear-of-poverty-in-old-age-i-have-this-vision-of-myself/) [Jenny Eclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-eclair/) > [I know it's not cat food, but what exactly is it that they put inside of tinned ravioli?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-know-it-s-not-cat-food-but-what-exactly-is-it-that-they-put-inside/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“You must have six boxes of cat food in that cupboard." "Moshe gets cranky if I don't keep a variety." After tasking his breakfast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-must-have-six-boxes-of-cat-food-in-that-cupboard-moshe-gets/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Why don't they just make mouse-flavored cat food?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-don-t-they-just-make-mouse-flavored-cat-food/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“I am not a fan of supermarkets and I hate shopping there, even for things I can't get elsewhere, like cat food and bin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-am-not-a-fan-of-supermarkets-and-i-hate-shopping-there-even-for/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [You have to ask yourself, what are the things that matter to you most in your life? If you have to have a latte…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-bernstein/you-have-to-ask-yourself-what-are-the-things-that-matter-to-you-most/) [William J. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-bernstein/) > [If you think cat food is for cats, how come it doesn't come in mouse flavor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-think-cat-food-is-for-cats-how-come-it-doesn-t-come-in-mouse/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“The way she looks right now, you have to think about multiple car pile-ups. Imagine two bloodmobiles colliding head on. The way she looks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-way-she-looks-right-now-you-have-to-think-about-multiple-car-pile/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I just try to do things that I would like to see,to do stuff I would enjoy doing. Is it going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-just-try-to-do-things-that-i-would-like-to-see-to-do-stuff-i-would/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [“There’s a can of cat food and a spoon on the floor somewhere. Take it out back and bang on it. My cat’s still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dugoni/there-s-a-can-of-cat-food-and-a-spoon-on-the-floor-somewhere-take-it/) [Robert Dugoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dugoni/) > [I'm a writer who stacks cat food for a living. It's true: I have a master's degree in creative writing, I've published two critically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-liebegott/i-m-a-writer-who-stacks-cat-food-for-a-living-it-s-true-i-have-a/) [Ali Liebegott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-liebegott/) > [“St. Clair tucks the tips of his fingers into his pockets and kicks the cobblestones with the toe of his boots. "Well?" he finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/st-clair-tucks-the-tips-of-his-fingers-into-his-pockets-and-kicks-the/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) Browse all 47 Cat food quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The goal is to be as neutral, as analytical—as “Mr. Spock”—as possible. This perhaps explains how it was possible for a team of Canadian researchers to find nine men and women willing to create a canned-cat-food flavor lexicon and a set of tasting protocols. For humans. Tasting cat food. And they couldn’t be shy about it. 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