Accounts Quote by Oliver Lodge
“..if a special geometry has to be invented in order to account for a falling apple, even Newton might be appalled at the complications which would ensue when really difficult problems are tackled.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Nature of Scientific Inquiry, 1910
Complex problems may require new frameworks, and even great minds can be surprised by the difficulty of solving fundamental issues.
In simple terms: New ideas needed for tough problems; even Newton would be surprised.
Key Takeaway
Accept that breakthroughs need fresh perspectives.
Themes
science
innovation
humility
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- research planning
- education curricula
- problem‑solving workshops
- policy development
Key Concepts
epistemology
paradigm shift
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions limit your problem solving?
- How can you foster openness to new ideas?
A Different Perspective
New frameworks can be hard to communicate and gain acceptance.
![“The system [of thought] doesn't stay with the difficult problem that produces unpleasant feelings. It's conditioned somehow to move as fast as it can toward more pleasant feelings, without actually facing the thing that's making the unpleasant feeling.” quote by David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e2a/david-bohm-4805_difficult_the-system-of-thought-doesn-t-stay-with_8291.jpg)
![“He [John von Neumann] had the invaluable faculty of being able to take the most difficult problem and separate it into its components, whereupon everything looked brlliantly simple.” quote by Stanislaw Ulam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f51/stanislaw-ulam-16765_able_he-john-von-neumann-had-the-invaluable-f_448151.jpg)
