Human nature Quote by Michael Crichton
““The ultimate lesson is that science isn’t special – at least not anymore. Maybe back when Einstein talked to Niels Bohr, and there were only a few dozen important workers in every field. But there are now three million researchers in America. It’s no longer a calling, it’s a career. Science is as corruptible a human activity as any other. Its practitioners aren’t saints, they’re human beings, and they do what human beings do – lie, cheat, steal from one another, sue, hide data, fake data, overstate their own importance and denigrate opposing views unfairly. That’s human nature. It isn’t going to change””
About This Quote
Source Book: Jurassic Park, 1990
Science is now a large, competitive profession subject to the same flaws and incentives as any other field.
In simple terms: Science is a human activity with bias and corruption.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and mitigate bias in scientific work.
Themes
science
ethics
human nature
career
corruption
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- industry R&D
- policy making
- media reporting
Key Concepts
Institutional incentives
confirmation bias
publish or perish
conflict of interest
Questions to Reflect On
- How do incentives shape scientific behavior?
- What safeguards can protect research integrity?
A Different Perspective
Science can still produce reliable knowledge despite human flaws.
