--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But now science is the belief system that…" description: "\"“But now science is the belief system that is hundreds of years old. And, like the medieval system before it, science is starting not to fit the world ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/michael-crichton-694_science_but-now-science-is-the-belief-system-tha_1137927.jpg" --- # But now science is the belief system that is hundreds of… ![“But now science is the belief system that is hundreds of years old. And, like the medieval system before it, science is starting not to fit the world any more. Science has attained so much power that its practical limits begin to be apparent. Largely through science, billions of us live in one…” quote by Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/michael-crichton-694_science_but-now-science-is-the-belief-system-tha_1137927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/michael-crichton-694_science_but-now-science-is-the-belief-system-tha_1137927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/794/michael-crichton-694_science_but-now-science-is-the-belief-system-tha_1137927.jpg) > ““But now science is the belief system that is hundreds of years old. And, like the medieval system before it, science is starting not to fit the world any more. Science has attained so much power that its practical limits begin to be apparent. Largely through science, billions of us live in one small world, densely packed and intercommunicating. But science cannot help us decide what to do with that world, or how to live. Science can make a nuclear reactor, but it cannot tell us not to build it. Science can make pesticide, but cannot tell us not to use it. And our world starts to seem polluted in fundamental ways---air, and water, and land---because of ungovernable science.”” [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science provides tools but lacks moral guidance, leading to unintended consequences when its power outpaces ethical oversight. **In simple terms:** Science gives power but not wisdom. Key Takeaway Balance scientific progress with ethical reflection. Themes ethics technology responsibility environment power Mood cautious reflective concerned Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - environmental regulation - public education - technology development - corporate governance Key Concepts moral philosophy risk assessment systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How should societies set boundaries on powerful technologies? - What role should ethics play in scientific research? A Different Perspective Science alone cannot dictate values or limits; societal consensus is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-system/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Small world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-world/) ## Related quotes > [Another of the qualities of science is that it teaches the value of rational thought, as well as the importance of freedom of thought;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/another-of-the-qualities-of-science-is-that-it-teaches-the-value-of/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [ “\[Chemist Michael\] Polanyi found one other necessary requirement for full initiation into science: Belief. If science has become the orthodoxy of the West, individuals… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rhodes/chemist-michael-polanyi-found-one-other-necessary-requirement-for/) [Richard Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rhodes/) > [“There is a certain hubris to science, a belief that the more we develop technology and the more we learn, the better our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/there-is-a-certain-hubris-to-science-a-belief-that-the-more-we/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/science-is-the-belief-in-the-ignorance-of-experts/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“Science with belief acted the best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-leela-pandey/science-with-belief-acted-the-best/) [Abhishek Leela Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-leela-pandey/) > [Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-feynman/science-is-the-belief-in-the-ignorance-of-the-experts/) [Richard Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-feynman/) > [In comparing religious belief to science, I try to remember that science is belief also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/in-comparing-religious-belief-to-science-i-try-to-remember-that/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The highest court is in the end one's own conscience and conviction-that goes for you and for Einstein and every other physicist-and before any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-planck/the-highest-court-is-in-the-end-one-s-own-conscience-and-conviction/) [Max Planck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-planck/) > [“My Faith in science is the belief of all that is …"noticeable" ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesham-nebr/my-faith-in-science-is-the-belief-of-all-that-is-noticeable/) [Hesham Nebr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesham-nebr/) > ["True science has no belief," says Dr. Fenwick, in Bulwer-Lytton's 'Strange Story;' "true science knows but three states of mind: denial, conviction, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/true-science-has-no-belief-says-dr-fenwick-in-bulwer-lytton-s-strange/) [H. 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We make it up as we go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-hirschfeld/life-isn-t-a-science-we-make-it-up-as-we-go/) [Al Hirschfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-hirschfeld/) > [After all, that was a main purpose of science: to make things of all kinds happen sooner than they otherwise would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aickman/after-all-that-was-a-main-purpose-of-science-to-make-things-of-all/) [Robert Aickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aickman/) > [“science, which can make known only the interrelations of things, but never their origin, essence and end, will never be able to satisfy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/science-which-can-make-known-only-the-interrelations-of-things-but/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [Engineering or technology is all about using the power of science to make life better for people, to reduce cost, to improve comfort, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/engineering-or-technology-is-all-about-using-the-power-of-science-to/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) ## More by Michael Crichton > [They are focused on whether they can do something. They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“it is important to recognize that the behavior of the two antagonists mirrors each other, like a Rorschach inkblot. 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The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/as-the-practical-value-of-altering-consciousness-becomes-recognized/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/books-aren-t-written-they-re-rewritten-including-your-own-it-is-one/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The purpose of life is to stay alive. Watch any animal in nature--all it tries to do is stay alive. 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I fear he is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-fascination-with-computer-models-is-something-i-understand-very/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) [Explore all 386 Michael Crichton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## More Science quotes > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [“Galton’s gospel of eugenics found fertile soil in Britain, in the intellectual salons of Europe, and in the United States. Beginning in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-loconte/galton-s-gospel-of-eugenics-found-fertile-soil-in-britain-in-the/) Joseph Loconte > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. 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