--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientists are human. We have our blind…" description: "\"Scientists are human. We have our blind spots and prejudices. Science is a mechanism designed to ferret them out. Problem is we aren't always faithful ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_blind_scientists-are-human-we-have-our-blind-s_2843904.png" --- # Scientists are human. We have our blind spots and… ![“Scientists are human. We have our blind spots and prejudices. Science is a mechanism designed to ferret them out. Problem is we aren't always faithful to the core values of science.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_blind_scientists-are-human-we-have-our-blind-s_2843904.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_blind_scientists-are-human-we-have-our-blind-s_2843904.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_blind_scientists-are-human-we-have-our-blind-s_2843904.png) > “Scientists are human. We have our blind spots and prejudices. Science is a mechanism designed to ferret them out. Problem is we aren't always faithful to the core values of science.” [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science aims to expose human bias, yet practitioners often fail to uphold its core principles. **In simple terms:** Science tries to reveal bias, but scientists sometimes neglect its values. Key Takeaway Commit to scientific integrity and self‑scrutiny. Themes scientific ethics bias detection human fallibility Mood critical educational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - research design - peer review - policy making - education curricula Key Concepts philosophy of science methodology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve adherence to scientific values? - What safeguards protect against bias? A Different Perspective Bias can be entrenched despite mechanisms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-spots/) [Core](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core/) [Core values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core-values/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Ferrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ferrets/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanism/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Prejudices Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudices-science-917925/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-mechanism-2196654/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists/) [Scientists Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists-human-2417473/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Values Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values-science-857096/) ## Related quotes > [Knowledge-it excites prejudices to call it science-is advancing as irresistibly, as majestically, as remorselessly as the ocean moves in upon the shore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/knowledge-it-excites-prejudices-to-call-it-science-is-advancing-as/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Science is a mechanism, a way of trying to improve your knowledge of nature. It's a system for testing your thoughts against the universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/science-is-a-mechanism-a-way-of-trying-to-improve-your-knowledge-of/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Science doesn't purvey absolute truth. Science is a mechanism... for testing your thoughts against the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/science-doesn-t-purvey-absolute-truth-science-is-a-mechanism-for/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“The scientists call it human nature; which is just a fancy term for the God-given flaws we have no intention of giving back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/the-scientists-call-it-human-nature-which-is-just-a-fancy-term-for/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [Scientists are human-they're as biased as any other group. But they do have one great advantage in that science is a self-correcting process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ponnamperuma/scientists-are-human-they-re-as-biased-as-any-other-group-but-they-do/) [Cyril Ponnamperuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ponnamperuma/) > [In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/in-science-it-often-happens-that-scientists-say-you-know-that-s-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are not just scientists, but human beings as well. Like most people we’d like to see the world a better place, which in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schneider/we-are-not-just-scientists-but-human-beings-as-well-like-most-people/) [Stephen Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schneider/) > [America may say that it values science, but it sure as hell doesn't want to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-jahren/america-may-say-that-it-values-science-but-it-sure-as-hell-doesn-t/) [Hope Jahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-jahren/) > [Any high school boy or girl knows how to calculate the force with which a stone he or she throws will hit someone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-gomatam/any-high-school-boy-or-girl-knows-how-to-calculate-the-force-with/) [Ravi Gomatam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-gomatam/) > [We must give as much weight to the arousal of the emotions and to the expression of moral and esthetic values as we now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/we-must-give-as-much-weight-to-the-arousal-of-the-emotions-and-to-the-2/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [Science has nothing to be ashamed of even in the ruins of Nagasaki. The shame is theirs who appeal to other values than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/science-has-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-even-in-the-ruins-of-nagasaki/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“The values of science and the values of democracy are concordant, in many cases indistinguishable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-values-of-science-and-the-values-of-democracy-are-concordant-in-2/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The values of science and the values of democracy are concordant, in many cases indistinguishable. Science and democracy began - in their civilized incarnations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-values-of-science-and-the-values-of-democracy-are-concordant-in/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are living in a society that is totally dependent on science and high technology, and yet most of us are effectively alienated and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/we-are-living-in-a-society-that-is-totally-dependent-on-science-and/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [“The people who would like to manipulate and use you won't tell you your blind spots. They may plan to continue using them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/the-people-who-would-like-to-manipulate-and-use-you-won-t-tell-you/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) ## More by Neil deGrasse Tyson > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The Pacific is the best toilet for satellites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-pacific-is-the-best-toilet-for-satellites/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If you seek only easy problems to solve, then ultimately, there'll be nothing about you to distinguish yourself from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-seek-only-easy-problems-to-solve-then-ultimately-there-ll-be/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Explore all 1,143 Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More Blind quotes > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Love is so blind, it feels right when it's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/love-is-so-blind-it-feels-right-when-it-s-wrong/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [“What I shall feel to-morrow I cannot tell. Maybe I shall go blind again, for women are never two days alike in their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/what-i-shall-feel-to-morrow-i-cannot-tell-maybe-i-shall-go-blind/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [Now the stage today is to know that Self Realization gives you experiences and then your faith is established. Not blind but open enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/now-the-stage-today-is-to-know-that-self-realization-gives-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“The heart’s blind. It’s the head that causes all the trouble. Sometimes both are stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/the-heart-s-blind-it-s-the-head-that-causes-all-the-trouble-sometimes/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [“In the story of the blind men and the elephant, what’s usually ignored is the fact that each man’s description was correct. What Faye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/in-the-story-of-the-blind-men-and-the-elephant-what-s-usually-ignored/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [I'm glad I'm blind and can't see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/i-m-glad-i-m-blind-and-can-t-see-it/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Shut your eyes and you will know what I mean by thought entombed in darkness. Light comes through the senses, and not only through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/shut-your-eyes-and-you-will-know-what-i-mean-by-thought-entombed-in/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) [Browse all 3,877 Blind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scientists are human. We have our blind spots and prejudices. Science is a mechanism designed to ferret them out. 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