---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every scientific truth goes through three…"
description: "\"“Every scientific truth goes through three stages. First, people say it conflicts with the Bible. Second, they say it has been discovered before. Last,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/matthew-pearl-17732_believed_every-scientific-truth-goes-through-thre_3142973.png"
---

#  Every scientific truth goes through three stages. First…

![“Every scientific truth goes through three stages. First, people say it conflicts with the Bible. Second, they say it has been discovered before. Last, they say they always believed it.” quote by Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/matthew-pearl-17732_believed_every-scientific-truth-goes-through-thre_3142973.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/matthew-pearl-17732_believed_every-scientific-truth-goes-through-thre_3142973.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/matthew-pearl-17732_believed_every-scientific-truth-goes-through-thre_3142973.png)

> ““Every scientific truth goes through three stages. First, people say it conflicts with the Bible. Second, they say it has been discovered before. Last, they say they always believed it.””

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

## 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 describes how new scientific ideas face religious opposition, then claims prior discovery, and finally become accepted as obvious truths.

**In simple terms:** Science is first resisted, then rationalized, finally accepted.

Key Takeaway

Expect resistance before acceptance.

Themes

science religion history progress

Mood

skeptical reflective

Type

analytical historical

When to use this quote

- academic debate
- public policy
- education curriculum
- media reporting

Key Concepts

paradigm shift social acceptance cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

- How does society decide which ideas become mainstream?
- What role does faith play in scientific discourse?

A Different Perspective

Some scientific truths may never be fully accepted due to cultural inertia.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Conflicts Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts-bible-3777354/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-goes-1459112/)

## Related quotes

> [“Every great scientific truth goes through three stages. First, people say it conflicts with the Bible. Next they say it has been discovered before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-agassiz/every-great-scientific-truth-goes-through-three-stages-first-people/)

[Louis Agassiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-agassiz/)

> [There's a saying in the scientific community, that every great truth goes through three phases. First, people deny it. Second, they say that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/there-s-a-saying-in-the-scientific-community-that-every-great-truth/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [“My final slide quoted the words of biologist Louis Agassiz: ‘Every scientific truth goes through three states: first, people say it conflicts with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-noakes/my-final-slide-quoted-the-words-of-biologist-louis-agassiz-every/)

[Tim Noakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-noakes/)

> [It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I'm looking for the truth,' and so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab/it-is-a-puzzling-thing-the-truth-knocks-on-the-door-and-you-say-go-2/)

[AB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab/)

> [All truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident. Facts are stubborn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/all-truth-goes-through-three-stages-first-it-is-ridiculed-then-it-is/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [It is always good policy to tell the truth unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar. Jerome K. Jerome It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/it-is-always-good-policy-to-tell-the-truth-unless-of-course-you-are/)

[Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/)

> [Where truth goes, I will go, and where truth is I will be, and nothing but death shall divide me and the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/where-truth-goes-i-will-go-and-where-truth-is-i-will-be-and-nothing/)

[Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/)

> [The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth, and it goes away. Puzzling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-truth-knocks-on-the-door-and-you-say-go-away-i-m-looking-for-the/)

[Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/)

> [“Far too often the Internet is where the truth goes to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/far-too-often-the-internet-is-where-the-truth-goes-to-die/)

[Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/)

> [Once someone begins hiding the truth it goes straight down hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-someone-begins-hiding-the-truth-it-goes-straight-down-hill/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Everything but the truth goes away in the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-henry/everything-but-the-truth-goes-away-in-the-end/)

[Emily Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-henry/)

> [However much you deny the truth, the truth goes on existing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/however-much-you-deny-the-truth-the-truth-goes-on-existing/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I'm looking for the truth,' and so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/it-is-a-puzzling-thing-the-truth-knocks-on-the-door-and-you-say-go/)

[Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/)

> [“The sense of truth goes to the strong and the victor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-sense-of-truth-goes-to-the-strong-and-the-victor/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

> [Science is not there for you to cherry pick ... You can decide whether or not to believe in it but that doesn’t change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-is-not-there-for-you-to-cherry-pick-you-can-decide-whether-or/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

## More by Matthew Pearl

> [“Money is good, but it is not all about a man. You will have successes and reversals, but remember it is your reaction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/money-is-good-but-it-is-not-all-about-a-man-you-will-have-successes/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [Though a woman tempted man to eat, my dear Longfellow," said Holmes, "you never hear of Eve having to do with his drinking, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/though-a-woman-tempted-man-to-eat-my-dear-longfellow-said-holmes-you/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“We never like the smell of our own vices in other people, Holmes. Ah, let's steer here for a drink or two," Lowell suggested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/we-never-like-the-smell-of-our-own-vices-in-other-people-holmes-ah/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [He was outwardly calm but inwardly bleeding to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/he-was-outwardly-calm-but-inwardly-bleeding-to-death/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [Shakespeare brings us to know ourselves. Dante, with his dissection of all others, bids us to know one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/shakespeare-brings-us-to-know-ourselves-dante-with-his-dissection-of/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [Remember that there are two things in this life that are never worth crying about: what can be cured and what cannot be cured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/remember-that-there-are-two-things-in-this-life-that-are-never-worth/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“Believe that when I am at once a man's friend I am always so-nor is it so very hard to bring me to it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/believe-that-when-i-am-at-once-a-man-s-friend-i-am-always-so-nor-is/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“On the trees were no longer only leaves but brown fruits, on the bushes no longer blossoms but clusters of red berries. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/on-the-trees-were-no-longer-only-leaves-but-brown-fruits-on-the/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [Books do pretend ...but squeezed in between is even more that is true—without what you may call the lies, the pages would be too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/books-do-pretend-but-squeezed-in-between-is-even-more-that-is-true/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“No, never mind, I didn't think so. Mead, Dante's theme is man-not a man.' Lowell said finally with a mild patience that he reserved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/no-never-mind-i-didn-t-think-so-mead-dante-s-theme-is-man-not-a-man/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“There was still the temptation to believe the world was a mere trap for human sin. But sin, the way he saw it, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/there-was-still-the-temptation-to-believe-the-world-was-a-mere-trap/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“The force of Dante's poetry resonated most in those who did not confess the Catholic faith, for believers would inevitably have quibbles with Dante's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/the-force-of-dante-s-poetry-resonated-most-in-those-who-did-not/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“...It is the one time Dante calls such explicit attention to the idea of contrapasso-a word for which we have no exact translation, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/it-is-the-one-time-dante-calls-such-explicit-attention-to-the-idea-of/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [...and luckily I have enough in my head to balance what is wanting in my back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/and-luckily-i-have-enough-in-my-head-to-balance-what-is-wanting-in-my/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

> [“Remember that only when past genius is transmitted into a present power shall we meet the first truly american poet. And somewhere, born to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/remember-that-only-when-past-genius-is-transmitted-into-a-present/)

[Matthew Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

[Explore all 35 Matthew Pearl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/)

## More Believed quotes

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/)

[Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/)

> [“I didn't know if I believed in 'happily ever after' anymore. I mean, I didn't know what would happen tomorrow, let alone for forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kate-strohm/i-didn-t-know-if-i-believed-in-happily-ever-after-anymore-i-mean-i/)

[Stephanie Kate Strohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kate-strohm/)

> [Alfred Nobel believed that social changes are brought about slowly, and sometimes by indirect means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertha-von-suttner/alfred-nobel-believed-that-social-changes-are-brought-about-slowly/)

[Bertha von Suttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertha-von-suttner/)

> [Aaron Spelling always had his finger on the pulse of pop culture, he knew what the public wanted to see. He was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-milano/aaron-spelling-always-had-his-finger-on-the-pulse-of-pop-culture-he/)

[Alyssa Milano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-milano/)

> [I never believed that they was such thing as love at first sight but I think I'm having that feeliing @sarahlovemoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishack/i-never-believed-that-they-was-such-thing-as-love-at-first-sight-but/)

[Mishack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mishack/)

> [“I wish I believed him. He's looking at me like he can see where I begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcnamara/i-wish-i-believed-him-he-s-looking-at-me-like-he-can-see-where-i-begin/)

[Amy McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcnamara/)

> [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/)

[Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/)

> [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/)

[Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/)

> [No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/no-statement-should-be-believed-because-it-is-made-by-an-authority/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [I never believed I'd have a six-pack, especially not at 35 years old. I always thought it was a genetic blessing. It's not. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sullivan-stapleton/i-never-believed-i-d-have-a-six-pack-especially-not-at-35-years-old-i/)

[Sullivan Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sullivan-stapleton/)

> [“For a moment, I believed you.” He ordered me, dryly, recovering his usual poise again. He does not only have a selective hearing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tionne-rogers/for-a-moment-i-believed-you-he-ordered-me-dryly-recovering-his-usual/)

[Tionne Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tionne-rogers/)

> [There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/there-was-a-time-when-idealistic-folksingers-such-as-myself-believed/)

[James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/)

> [I felt uneasy, but sometimes, like I said before, I believed in Col. North and there was a very solid and very valid reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawn-hall/i-felt-uneasy-but-sometimes-like-i-said-before-i-believed-in-col/)

[Fawn Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawn-hall/)

> [And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/and-upon-this-act-sincerely-believed-to-be-an-act-of-justice/)

[Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/)

[Browse all 1,214 Believed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Every scientific truth goes through three stages. First, people say it conflicts with the Bible. Second, they say it has been discovered before. Last, they say they always believed it.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Matthew Pearl"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/every-scientific-truth-goes-through-three-stages-first-people-say-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/every-scientific-truth-goes-through-three-stages-first-people-say-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/matthew-pearl-17732_believed_every-scientific-truth-goes-through-thre_3142973.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/matthew-pearl-17732_believed_every-scientific-truth-goes-through-thre_3142973.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/matthew-pearl-17732_believed_every-scientific-truth-goes-through-thre_3142973.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Every scientific truth goes through three stages. First, people say it conflicts with the Bible. Second…” — Matthew Pearl",
                "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": "Matthew Pearl",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pearl/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Every scientific truth goes through three...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/every-scientific-truth-goes-through-three-stages-first-people-say-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pearl/every-scientific-truth-goes-through-three-stages-first-people-say-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
