--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science is a way of trying not to fool…" description: "\"Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.\" — Richard P. Feynman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_science-is-a-way-of-trying-not-to-fool-y_320257.png" --- # Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. ![“Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_science-is-a-way-of-trying-not-to-fool-y_320257.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_science-is-a-way-of-trying-not-to-fool-y_320257.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/richard-p-feynman-495_atheism_science-is-a-way-of-trying-not-to-fool-y_320257.png) > “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.” [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science is a disciplined self‑check, constantly testing and correcting its own assumptions. **In simple terms:** Science tries to avoid self‑deception. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions regularly. Themes science skepticism truth-seeking Mood inquisitive analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - research - education - critical thinking - policy making Key Concepts epistemology methodology Questions to Reflect On - How do you guard against personal bias? - What methods ensure honest inquiry? A Different Perspective Human bias can still infiltrate scientific practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [If you are trying to fool a farsighted or dimwitted person, a veiled facial disguise might be enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-trying-to-fool-a-farsighted-or-dimwitted-person-a-veiled/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But the real glory of science is that we can find a way of thinking such that the law is evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/but-the-real-glory-of-science-is-that-we-can-find-a-way-of-thinking/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Science is a way for us to not fool ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/science-is-a-way-for-us-to-not-fool-ourselves/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Science is a way to teach how something gets to be known, what is not known, to what extent things are known (for nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/science-is-a-way-to-teach-how-something-gets-to-be-known-what-is-not/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I think I do overshare, and I sometimes marvel that I do it. But it's sort of - in a way, it's my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-think-i-do-overshare-and-i-sometimes-marvel-that-i-do-it-but-it-s/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [It's really rich territory for me as an actor to have somebody who has such a long way to go, but he's trying and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dunster/it-s-really-rich-territory-for-me-as-an-actor-to-have-somebody-who/) [Phil Dunster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dunster/) > [If you want me in your life, figure out a way to put me there. I'm done trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-me-in-your-life-figure-out-a-way-to-put-me-there-i-m-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The direction Eun Gi is trying to go, I don't know. How you're going to go that way. What you're trying to do going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-roo/the-direction-eun-gi-is-trying-to-go-i-don-t-know-how-you-re-going-to/) [Ma-Roo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-roo/) > [“I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to run around screwing the first thing that winks my way. I’m trying to be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-but-that-doesn-t-mean-i-m-going-to-run-around-screwing-the-first/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Saying something is far too simple is a doubter's way or trying to make the world more complex so he won't have answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-p-knave/saying-something-is-far-too-simple-is-a-doubter-s-way-or-trying-to/) [Adam P. Knave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-p-knave/) > [We're trying to impress ourselves in a way. That's why we keep trying to do things better... we never get satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/we-re-trying-to-impress-ourselves-in-a-way-that-s-why-we-keep-trying/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-trying-to-fool-someone-else/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Who am I trying to fool? I'm well aware that at every stage of history there have been crimes against humanity, and they couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-dowlatabadi/who-am-i-trying-to-fool-i-m-well-aware-that-at-every-stage-of-history/) [Mahmoud Dowlatabadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-dowlatabadi/) > [Something I learned early on in my career is there's no use trying to fool anybody about what you want to do on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/something-i-learned-early-on-in-my-career-is-there-s-no-use-trying-to/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [Tired of trying to display myself as perfect to certain people. Who am I trying to fool? I've got my own problems to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tired-of-trying-to-display-myself-as-perfect-to-certain-people-who-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Richard P. Feynman > [“Philosophers have said before that one of the fundamental requisites of science is that whenever you set up the same conditions, the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/philosophers-have-said-before-that-one-of-the-fundamental-requisites/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [My rule is, when you are unhappy, think about it. But when you're happy, don't. Why spoil it? You're probably happy for some ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/my-rule-is-when-you-are-unhappy-think-about-it-but-when-you-re-happy/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Trying to understand the way nature works involves a most terrible test of human reasoning ability. It involves subtle trickery, beautiful tightropes of logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/trying-to-understand-the-way-nature-works-involves-a-most-terrible/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Today's brains are yesterday's mashed potatoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/today-s-brains-are-yesterday-s-mashed-potatoes/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is a language plus reasoning; it is like a language plus logic. Mathematics is a tool for reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-a-language-plus-reasoning-it-is-like-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [It is necessary for the very existence of science that minds exist which do not allow that nature must satisfy some preconceived conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/it-is-necessary-for-the-very-existence-of-science-that-minds-exist/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There was a Princess Somebody of Denmark sitting at a table with a number of people around her, and I saw an empty chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-was-a-princess-somebody-of-denmark-sitting-at-a-table-with-a/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [All the time you're saying to yourself, 'I could do that, but I won't,'--which is just another way of saying that you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/all-the-time-you-re-saying-to-yourself-i-could-do-that-but-i-won-t/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There's a big difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-s-a-big-difference-between-knowing-the-name-of-something-and/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The fact that you are not sure means that it is possible that there is another way someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-fact-that-you-are-not-sure-means-that-it-is-possible-that-there/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [You can always recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/you-can-always-recognize-truth-by-its-beauty-and-simplicity/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [One cannot understand... the universality of laws of nature, the relationship of things, without an understanding of mathematics. There is no other way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/one-cannot-understand-the-universality-of-laws-of-nature-the/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is not just a language. Mathematics is a language plus reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-not-just-a-language-mathematics-is-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [A poet once said, "The whole universe is in a glass of wine." We will probably never know in what sense he meant that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/a-poet-once-said-the-whole-universe-is-in-a-glass-of-wine-we-will/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I was a very shy character, always feeling uncomfortable because everybody was stronger than I, and always afraid I would look like a sissy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-was-a-very-shy-character-always-feeling-uncomfortable-because/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) [Explore all 515 Richard P. Feynman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. 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