Exertion Quote by Peter Medawar
“It is a truism to say that a good experiment is precisely that which spares us the exertion of thinking: the better it is, the less we have to worry about its interpretation, about what it really means.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Scientific Method and the Role of Experiments, 1967
A good experiment simplifies thinking by reducing the need to interpret complex data.
In simple terms: Simpler experiments need less mental effort to understand.
Design experiments that clarify, not complicate.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- lab work
- field research
- product development
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What might be missed when an experiment is too simple?
- How do you balance simplicity and depth?
Over‑simplification can hide important nuances.