--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientists are educated from a very early…" description: "\"Scientists are educated from a very early time and a very early age to believe that the greater scientist is the scientist who makes discoveries or the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/richard-lewontin-20755_accepted_scientists-are-educated-from-a-very-earl_1903091.png" --- # Scientists are educated from a very early time and a very… ![“Scientists are educated from a very early time and a very early age to believe that the greater scientist is the scientist who makes discoveries or theories that apply to the greatest ambit of things in the world. And if you've only made a very good theory about snails, or a very good theory about…” quote by Richard Lewontin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/richard-lewontin-20755_accepted_scientists-are-educated-from-a-very-earl_1903091.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/richard-lewontin-20755_accepted_scientists-are-educated-from-a-very-earl_1903091.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/richard-lewontin-20755_accepted_scientists-are-educated-from-a-very-earl_1903091.png) > “Scientists are educated from a very early time and a very early age to believe that the greater scientist is the scientist who makes discoveries or theories that apply to the greatest ambit of things in the world. And if you've only made a very good theory about snails, or a very good theory about some planets but not about the universe as a whole, or about all the history of humankind, then you have in some sense accepted a lower position in the hierarchy of the fame of science as it's taught to you as a young student.” [Richard Lewontin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewontin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science culture often values broad, universal theories over specialized work, creating a hierarchy of fame based on perceived scope. **In simple terms:** Broad theories are prized more than narrow ones. Key Takeaway Recognize value in all scientific contributions. Themes science hierarchy recognition career motivation Mood reflective critical inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - research evaluation - grant proposals - career planning - public communication - education Key Concepts epistemology sociology of science academic culture Questions to Reflect On - How can we better appreciate niche expertise? - What metrics could balance breadth and depth? A Different Perspective Specialized research can be undervalued despite deep impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Young students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-students/) ## Related quotes > [I refrained from writing another one, thinking to myself: Never mind, I will prove that I am able to become a greater scientist than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-oberth/i-refrained-from-writing-another-one-thinking-to-myself-never-mind-i/) [Hermann Oberth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-oberth/) > [The greater the scientist, the more he is impressed with his ignorance of reality, and the more he realizes that his laws and labels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/the-greater-the-scientist-the-more-he-is-impressed-with-his-ignorance/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The person who discovered the law of love was a far greater scientist than any of our modern scientists. 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