--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What you need is an hypothesis for how…" description: "\"“What you need is an hypothesis for how you’re going to get that slotless screw out of there and scientific method doesn’t provide any of these hypothe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/robert-m-pirsig-817_losing-time_what-you-need-is-an-hypothesis-for-how-y_1916600.jpg" --- # What you need is an hypothesis for how you’re going to get… ![“What you need is an hypothesis for how you’re going to get that slotless screw out of there and scientific method doesn’t provide any of these hypotheses. It operates only after they’re around. This is the zero moment of consciousness. Stuck. No answer. Honked. Kaput. It’s a miserable experience…” quote by Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/robert-m-pirsig-817_losing-time_what-you-need-is-an-hypothesis-for-how-y_1916600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/robert-m-pirsig-817_losing-time_what-you-need-is-an-hypothesis-for-how-y_1916600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15c/robert-m-pirsig-817_losing-time_what-you-need-is-an-hypothesis-for-how-y_1916600.jpg) > ““What you need is an hypothesis for how you’re going to get that slotless screw out of there and scientific method doesn’t provide any of these hypotheses. It operates only after they’re around. This is the zero moment of consciousness. Stuck. No answer. Honked. Kaput. It’s a miserable experience emotionally. You’re losing time. You’re incompetent. You don’t know what you’re doing. You should be ashamed of yourself.”” [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When tools fail, we feel helpless, but the moment of stuckness is an opportunity to seek new methods. **In simple terms:** Stuckness reveals need for new approaches. Key Takeaway Use frustration as a cue to innovate. Themes problem solving frustration innovation Mood thoughtful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - mechanical repair - software debugging - creative brainstorming Key Concepts philosophy engineering psychology Questions to Reflect On - What alternative strategies can you explore? - How does discomfort signal growth? A Different Perspective Relying solely on existing methods limits breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Losing time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-time/) [Scientific method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-method/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The past is no more and the future is not yet. The only right person is one who lives moment to moment, whose arrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-past-is-no-more-and-the-future-is-not-yet-the-only-right-person/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“But, then, I cannot escape the objection that there is no state of mind, however simple, which does not change every moment, since there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/but-then-i-cannot-escape-the-objection-that-there-is-no-state-of-mind/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Unless you're fond of hollering you don't make great conversations on a running cycle. Instead you spend your time being aware of things and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/unless-you-re-fond-of-hollering-you-don-t-make-great-conversations-on/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“The real purpose of the scientific method is to make sure Nature hasn't misled you into thinking you know something you don't actually know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-real-purpose-of-the-scientific-method-is-to-make-sure-nature-hasn-2/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The real purpose of the scientific method is to make sure nature hasn’t misled you into thinking you know something you actually don’t know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-real-purpose-of-the-scientific-method-is-to-make-sure-nature-hasn/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The purpose of scientific method is to select a single truth from among many hypothetical truths. That, more than anything else, is what science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-purpose-of-scientific-method-is-to-select-a-single-truth-from/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 20 - 20 hindsight. It's good for seeing where you've been. It's good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/traditional-scientific-method-has-always-been-at-the-very-best-20-20/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“They filed out into the cold night at closing time, heading for Begbie's place with a carry-out. They'd already spent twelve hours drinking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/they-filed-out-into-the-cold-night-at-closing-time-heading-for-begbie/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I've always been into asking the big questions; I'm the last guy out the door at closing time cuz I was sittin' around 'til…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kowalczyk/i-ve-always-been-into-asking-the-big-questions-i-m-the-last-guy-out/) [Ed Kowalczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kowalczyk/) > [“Are you forgetting that losing a game is an error or a lesson, but losing one's time is a sin?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/are-you-forgetting-that-losing-a-game-is-an-error-or-a-lesson-but/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“In previous years, they might have spent hours in the cellar, on their feet, never seeing the time go by nor feeling their legs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-coss/in-previous-years-they-might-have-spent-hours-in-the-cellar-on-their/) [Laurence Cossé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-coss/) > [Money is not gained by losing time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/money-is-not-gained-by-losing-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my head, at least, the business of spinning stories has no closing time. Twists in my characters' lives, glimpses of their secrets, obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/in-my-head-at-least-the-business-of-spinning-stories-has-no-closing/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“I regretted my human form briefly; it would be so much easier to drag and rope information into the brain as neatly as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/i-regretted-my-human-form-briefly-it-would-be-so-much-easier-to-drag/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [“How long has it been since you and me? Hugs and kisses. Blankets and snuggles. Our sparks smoldering without a fireplace. Losing time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2019-fidelis-o-mkparu/how-long-has-it-been-since-you-and-me-hugs-and-kisses-blankets-and/) 2019 Fidelis O Mkparu ## More by Robert M. Pirsig > [“And from time to time you find your “county road” takes you onto a two-rutter and then a single rutter and then into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/and-from-time-to-time-you-find-your-county-road-takes-you-onto-a-two/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“I started to roll over for more sleep but heard a rooster crowing and then became aware we are on vacation and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-started-to-roll-over-for-more-sleep-but-heard-a-rooster-crowing-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even though quality cannot be defined, you know what quality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-though-quality-cannot-be-defined-you-know-what-quality-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [I suppose philosophy is historically not a woman's game, though that is changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-suppose-philosophy-is-historically-not-a-woman-s-game-though-that/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Up until my first book was published, I had all this potential, people would say, and I screwed up. After it, I could say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/up-until-my-first-book-was-published-i-had-all-this-potential-people/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [There is a perennial classical question that asks which part of the motorcycle, which grain of sand in which pile, is the Buddha. Obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/there-is-a-perennial-classical-question-that-asks-which-part-of-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Of the value traps, the most widespread and pernicious is value rigidity. This is an inability to revalue what one sees because of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/of-the-value-traps-the-most-widespread-and-pernicious-is-value/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Historically mystics have claimed that for a true understanding of reality metaphysics is too “scientific”. Metaphysics is not reality. Metaphysics is names about reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/historically-mystics-have-claimed-that-for-a-true-understanding-of/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“What’s emerging from the pattern of my own life is the for belief that the crisis is being caused by the inadequacy of existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-s-emerging-from-the-pattern-of-my-own-life-is-the-for-belief/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [To speak of certain government and establishment institutions as 'the system' is to speak correctly . . . They are sustained by structural relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-speak-of-certain-government-and-establishment-institutions-as-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/if-a-revolution-destroys-a-systematic-government-but-the-systematic/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-only-zen-you-can-find-on-the-tops-of-mountains-is-the-zen-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Only social patterns can control biological patterns, and the instrument of conversation between society and biology is not words. The instrument of conversation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/only-social-patterns-can-control-biological-patterns-and-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-in-the-presence-of-others-he-was-completely-alone/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Explore all 351 Robert M. Pirsig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## More Losing time quotes > [“How long has it been since you and me? Hugs and kisses. Blankets and snuggles. Our sparks smoldering without a fireplace. Losing time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2019-fidelis-o-mkparu/how-long-has-it-been-since-you-and-me-hugs-and-kisses-blankets-and/) 2019 Fidelis O Mkparu > [“I regretted my human form briefly; it would be so much easier to drag and rope information into the brain as neatly as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/i-regretted-my-human-form-briefly-it-would-be-so-much-easier-to-drag/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [In my head, at least, the business of spinning stories has no closing time. Twists in my characters' lives, glimpses of their secrets, obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/in-my-head-at-least-the-business-of-spinning-stories-has-no-closing/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [Money is not gained by losing time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/money-is-not-gained-by-losing-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In previous years, they might have spent hours in the cellar, on their feet, never seeing the time go by nor feeling their legs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-coss/in-previous-years-they-might-have-spent-hours-in-the-cellar-on-their/) [Laurence Cossé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-coss/) > [“Are you forgetting that losing a game is an error or a lesson, but losing one's time is a sin?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/are-you-forgetting-that-losing-a-game-is-an-error-or-a-lesson-but/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I've always been into asking the big questions; I'm the last guy out the door at closing time cuz I was sittin' around 'til…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kowalczyk/i-ve-always-been-into-asking-the-big-questions-i-m-the-last-guy-out/) [Ed Kowalczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kowalczyk/) > [“They filed out into the cold night at closing time, heading for Begbie's place with a carry-out. They'd already spent twelve hours drinking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/they-filed-out-into-the-cold-night-at-closing-time-heading-for-begbie/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I like to be productive - it's very hard for me to go on vacation because I just feel like I'm losing time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/i-like-to-be-productive-it-s-very-hard-for-me-to-go-on-vacation/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [“Jo knew she had to be utterly truthful, even when her version of the truth conflicted with what Lynn wanted to hear. Truth was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-frances-casey/jo-knew-she-had-to-be-utterly-truthful-even-when-her-version-of-the/) [Joan Frances Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-frances-casey/) > [“I nipped into this sanctuary late this afternoon and soon heard the dying footfalls of closing time. From now on, my only effort will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collier/i-nipped-into-this-sanctuary-late-this-afternoon-and-soon-heard-the/) [John Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collier/) > [“Now that she had the diagnosis to explain her sense of reality, she sorted some of the chaotic jumble of thoughts and memories. "I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-frances-casey/now-that-she-had-the-diagnosis-to-explain-her-sense-of-reality-she/) [Joan Frances Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-frances-casey/) > [We're constantly losing - we're losing time, we're losing ourselves. I don't feel for the things I lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/we-re-constantly-losing-we-re-losing-time-we-re-losing-ourselves-i/) [John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/) > [The clock is just as much a part of the game as the board and pieces, and losing because of time-trouble is no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-nunn/the-clock-is-just-as-much-a-part-of-the-game-as-the-board-and-pieces/) John Nunn > [If he's losing interest, then it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-he-s-losing-interest-then-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 61 Losing time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What you need is an hypothesis for how you’re going to get that slotless screw out of there and scientific method doesn’t provide any of these hypotheses. 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