--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My teacher, Hopkins, often commented on…" description: "\"My teacher, Hopkins, often commented on the craving for certainty that led so many physicists into mysticism or into the Church and similar organisatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/norman-pirie-94187_certainty_my-teacher-hopkins-often-commented-on-th_1468495.png" --- # My teacher, Hopkins, often commented on the craving for… ![“My teacher, Hopkins, often commented on the craving for certainty that led so many physicists into mysticism or into the Church and similar organisations ... Faith seems to be an occupational hazard for physicists.” quote by Norman Pirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/norman-pirie-94187_certainty_my-teacher-hopkins-often-commented-on-th_1468495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/norman-pirie-94187_certainty_my-teacher-hopkins-often-commented-on-th_1468495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/norman-pirie-94187_certainty_my-teacher-hopkins-often-commented-on-th_1468495.png) > “My teacher, Hopkins, often commented on the craving for certainty that led so many physicists into mysticism or into the Church and similar organisations ... Faith seems to be an occupational hazard for physicists.” [Norman Pirie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-pirie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physicists often seek certainty, leading some toward faith or mysticism, which can be both a hazard and a refuge. **In simple terms:** Scientists' quest for certainty can drive them to faith or mysticism. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of certainty in science. Themes science faith uncertainty philosophy psychology Mood analytical introspective Type certaintyainty:1 church:0 craving:0 faith:1 hazards:0 hopkins:0 mysticism:1 occupational hazards:0 organisation:0 physicist:1 physicists:1 science:1 seems:0 teacher:0 physicists mysticism:0 craving certainty:0 faith occupational:0 When to use this quote - academic discourse - personal belief - risk assessment Key Concepts cognitive bias occupational hazard Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance scientific rigor with personal belief? A Different Perspective Faith may conflict with empirical evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Craving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craving/) [Craving Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craving-certainty-5322363/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Occupational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-occupational-5322364/) [Hazards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hazards/) [Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopkins/) [Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysticism/) [Occupational hazards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupational-hazards/) [Organisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisation/) [Physicist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicist/) [Physicists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicists/) [Physicists Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicists-mysticism-5322362/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. 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It's an occupational hazard of being a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-princess-royal/being-pregnant-is-a-very-boring-six-months-i-am-not-particularly/) [Anne, Princess Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-princess-royal/) > [It is an occupational hazard that anyone who has spent her life learning how to lie eventually becomes bad at telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/it-is-an-occupational-hazard-that-anyone-who-has-spent-her-life/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Every job carries occupational hazards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/every-job-carries-occupational-hazards/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The occupational hazard of making a spectacle of yourself, over the long haul, is that at some point you buy a ticket too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcguane/the-occupational-hazard-of-making-a-spectacle-of-yourself-over-the/) [Thomas McGuane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcguane/) > [Quoting, like smoking, ... is a dirty habit to which I am devoted. 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You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quisenberry/coming-into-a-game-in-the-eighth-or-ninth-inning-is-like-parachuting/) [Dan Quisenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quisenberry/) > [When you are an actor, rejection and disappointment are an occupational hazard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/when-you-are-an-actor-rejection-and-disappointment-are-an/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [I have been heartbroken once and it has affected all my relationships from there on. 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