Accomplished Quote by Max Planck
“The whole strenuous intellectual work of an industrious research worker would appear, after all, in vain and hopeless, if he were not occasionally through some striking facts to find that he had, at the end of all his criss-cross journeys, at last accomplished at least one step which was conclusively nearer the truth.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Scientific Essays, Max Planck, 1930
Research can feel futile unless occasional breakthroughs show progress toward truth.
In simple terms: Research feels pointless without clear breakthroughs.
Celebrate small discoveries.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- lab work
- field studies
- theoretical analysis
- grant proposals
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you measure progress in long projects?
- What counts as a breakthrough for you?
Breakthroughs may be rare and hard to recognize.