--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Physicists] feel that the field of…" description: "\"[Physicists] feel that the field of bacterial viruses is a fine playground for serious children who ask ambitious questions.\" — Max Delbruck" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/max-delbruck-36906_ambitious_physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacter_2148911.png" --- # \[Physicists\] feel that the field of bacterial viruses is a… ![“[Physicists] feel that the field of bacterial viruses is a fine playground for serious children who ask ambitious questions.” quote by Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/max-delbruck-36906_ambitious_physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacter_2148911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/max-delbruck-36906_ambitious_physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacter_2148911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/max-delbruck-36906_ambitious_physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacter_2148911.png) > “\[Physicists\] feel that the field of bacterial viruses is a fine playground for serious children who ask ambitious questions.” [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The study of bacteriophages offers a rich, playful arena for curious scientists to explore big questions. **In simple terms:** Bacterial viruses are a fun research playground for inquisitive scientists. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity in seemingly simple systems. Themes science curiosity research biology Mood enthusiastic inquisitive Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - lab work - student projects - grant proposals - public outreach Key Concepts virology experimental design scientific inquiry Questions to Reflect On - How can playful experiments lead to serious breakthroughs? - What limits does a “playground” approach have? A Different Perspective Complex systems may oversimplify biological realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Physicists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicists/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Viruses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viruses/) ## Related quotes > [A strong feeling of adventure is animating those who are working on bacterial viruses, a feeling that they have a small part in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/a-strong-feeling-of-adventure-is-animating-those-who-are-working-on/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [“Every now and then, I'm lucky enough to teach a kindergarten or first-grade class. Many of these children are natural-born scientists - although heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-now-and-then-i-m-lucky-enough-to-teach-a-kindergarten-or-first-2/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Almost every kid asks, “Why is the sky blue?” That’s only one of the 40,000 questions that the typical child asks between the ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/almost-every-kid-asks-why-is-the-sky-blue-that-s-only-one-of-the-40/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some of my greatest role models are the young children who ask the right questions - who will sit down and share their concerns.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-ringo/some-of-my-greatest-role-models-are-the-young-children-who-ask-the/) [Jerome Ringo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-ringo/) > [“I could give you children,” said Jack, sounding faintly affronted. “You’d have to tell me how many heads you wanted them to have, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/i-could-give-you-children-said-jack-sounding-faintly-affronted-you-d/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [Children when they ask you why your mama so funny say she is a poet she don't have no sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/children-when-they-ask-you-why-your-mama-so-funny-say-she-is-a-poet/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [I've always been intrigued with the variety of answers this generation will give their children who ask, "Where did I come from, Mommy?" They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-ve-always-been-intrigued-with-the-variety-of-answers-this/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Children who get everything they ask for seldom succeed in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/children-who-get-everything-they-ask-for-seldom-succeed-in-life/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I know that big people don't like questions from children. They can ask all the questions they like, How's school? Are you a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-know-that-big-people-don-t-like-questions-from-children-they-can/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Children ask questions much more than adults do, and you have to wonder if this is something we have that we lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kurlansky/children-ask-questions-much-more-than-adults-do-and-you-have-to/) [Mark Kurlansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kurlansky/) > [You know, I think it's something I want to teach my children, to ask questions and not be afraid to disagree with people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/you-know-i-think-it-s-something-i-want-to-teach-my-children-to-ask/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [When children ask you questions about gray hairs, and wrinkles in the face, and sighs that have no words, and smiles too bright to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/when-children-ask-you-questions-about-gray-hairs-and-wrinkles-in-the/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) > [Do not shut up the young people against their will in a pew, and force the children to ask them questions for an hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/do-not-shut-up-the-young-people-against-their-will-in-a-pew-and-force/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“I find many adults are put off when young children pose scientific questions. Why is the Moon round? the children ask. Why is grass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/i-find-many-adults-are-put-off-when-young-children-pose-scientific/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) ## More by Max Delbruck > [Molecular genetics, our latest wonder, has taught us to spell out the connectivity of the tree of life in such palpable detail that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/molecular-genetics-our-latest-wonder-has-taught-us-to-spell-out-the/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [A strong feeling of adventure is animating those who are working on bacterial viruses, a feeling that they have a small part in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/a-strong-feeling-of-adventure-is-animating-those-who-are-working-on/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [The books of the great scientists are gathering dust on the shelves of learned libraries. ... While the artist's communication is linked forever with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/the-books-of-the-great-scientists-are-gathering-dust-on-the-shelves/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [“The scientist has in common with the artist only this: that he can find no better retreat from the world than his work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/the-scientist-has-in-common-with-the-artist-only-this-that-he-can/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [ The particular thing about science is to combine that \[the dreams of obtaining power\] with a retreat from the world. Other people want to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/the-particular-thing-about-science-is-to-combine-that-the-dreams-of/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [Any living cell carries with it the experience of a billion years of experimentation by its ancestors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/any-living-cell-carries-with-it-the-experience-of-a-billion-years-of/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [ No amount of study of present forms \[of life\] would permit us to infer \[the existence of\] dinosaurs ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/no-amount-of-study-of-present-forms-of-life-would-permit-us-to-infer/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [The whole business was like a child's toy that you could buy at the dime store, all built in this wonderful way that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/the-whole-business-was-like-a-child-s-toy-that-you-could-buy-at-the/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [If you're too sloppy, then you never get reproducible results, then you never get reproducible results, and then you never can draw any conclusions;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/if-you-re-too-sloppy-then-you-never-get-reproducible-results-then-you/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [The books of the great scientists are gathering dust on the shelves of learned libraries. And rightly so. The scientist addresses an infinitesimal audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/the-books-of-the-great-scientists-are-gathering-dust-on-the-shelves-2/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) > [The progress of science is tremendously disorderly, and the motivations that lead to this progress are tremendously varied, and the reasons why scientists go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/the-progress-of-science-is-tremendously-disorderly-and-the/) [Max Delbruck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) [Explore all 12 Max Delbruck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/) ## More Ambitious quotes > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Physicists] feel that the field of bacterial viruses is a fine playground for serious children who ask ambitious questions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Delbruck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacterial-viruses-is-a-fine/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambitious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacterial-viruses-is-a-fine/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/max-delbruck-36906_ambitious_physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacter_2148911.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/max-delbruck-36906_ambitious_physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacter_2148911.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72d/max-delbruck-36906_ambitious_physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacter_2148911.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[Physicists] feel that the field of bacterial viruses is a fine playground for serious children who ask…” — Max Delbruck", "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": "Max Delbruck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-delbruck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "[Physicists] feel that the field of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacterial-viruses-is-a-fine/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-delbruck/physicists-feel-that-the-field-of-bacterial-viruses-is-a-fine/#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 } } ] } ```