--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These philosophically fun ideas usually…" description: "\"“These philosophically fun ideas usually satisfy nobody. Nonetheless, they remind us that ignorance is the natural state of mind for a research scienti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_a_these-philosophically-fun-ideas-usually_1384367.png" --- # These philosophically fun ideas usually satisfy nobody… ![“These philosophically fun ideas usually satisfy nobody. Nonetheless, they remind us that ignorance is the natural state of mind for a research scientist. People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in…” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_a_these-philosophically-fun-ideas-usually_1384367.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_a_these-philosophically-fun-ideas-usually_1384367.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_a_these-philosophically-fun-ideas-usually_1384367.png) > ““These philosophically fun ideas usually satisfy nobody. Nonetheless, they remind us that ignorance is the natural state of mind for a research scientist. People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in the universe.”” [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. Research scientists must accept ignorance as a starting point, not a flaw, to discover new knowledge. **In simple terms:** Scientists should embrace not. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty to discover. Themes humility curiosity scientific method Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - lab research - grant writing - academic conferences - science education Key Concepts epistemology boundary of knowledge Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be ignorant? - How can humility drive breakthroughs? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind researchers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astrophysics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrophysics/) [For](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/for/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) ## Related quotes > [“But what if the universe was always there, in a state or condition we have yet to identify—a multiverse, for instance, that continually births…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/but-what-if-the-universe-was-always-there-in-a-state-or-condition-we-2/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“People who believe they are ignorant of nothing have neither looked for, nor stumbled upon, the boundary between what is known and unknown in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/people-who-believe-they-are-ignorant-of-nothing-have-neither-looked/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“But what if the universe was always there, in a state or condition we have yet to identify—a multiverse, for instance, that continually births…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/but-what-if-the-universe-was-always-there-in-a-state-or-condition-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“ignorance is the natural state of mind for a research scientist. 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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. 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