--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The last thing a scientist would do is…" description: "\"The last thing a scientist would do is cling to a map because he inherited it from his grandfather, or because it was used by George Washington or Abra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/s-i-hayakawa-15018_abraham_the-last-thing-a-scientist-would-do-is-c_1368943.jpg" --- # The last thing a scientist would do is cling to a map… ![“The last thing a scientist would do is cling to a map because he inherited it from his grandfather, or because it was used by George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.” quote by S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/s-i-hayakawa-15018_abraham_the-last-thing-a-scientist-would-do-is-c_1368943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/s-i-hayakawa-15018_abraham_the-last-thing-a-scientist-would-do-is-c_1368943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/s-i-hayakawa-15018_abraham_the-last-thing-a-scientist-would-do-is-c_1368943.jpg) > “The last thing a scientist would do is cling to a map because he inherited it from his grandfather, or because it was used by George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.” [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientists should not cling to outdated maps or authority; they must base conclusions on current evidence. **In simple terms:** Rely on evidence, not inherited authority. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and seek fresh data. Themes science critical thinking authority innovation Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - research labs - policy making - education - historical analysis Key Concepts epistemology methodology Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would you need to abandon a long‑held belief? - How do you balance respect for tradition with innovation? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched beliefs can meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [Grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather/) [Grandfather Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandfather-used-2213869/) [Inherited Grandfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherited-grandfather-3280057/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Map Inherited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/map-inherited-4708276/) [Maps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maps/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Scientist Cling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist-cling-4708277/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [Where is the society which does not struggle along under a dead-weight of tradition and law inherited from its grandfather?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-la-follette/where-is-the-society-which-does-not-struggle-along-under-a-dead/) [Suzanne La Follette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-la-follette/) > [“My grandfather used to say that if God did not allow a man to be reunited with his dogs in the next life He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/my-grandfather-used-to-say-that-if-god-did-not-allow-a-man-to-be/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [My grandfather used to be a chef and I remember going to his restaurant to peel potatoes and clean his floor. 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He wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-lamb/my-grandfather-always-used-to-say-i-remember-it-really-well-that-he/) [Conor Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-lamb/) > [While making my first film as a director, my father and grandfather used to ask me to explain the scenes by performing them myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randhir-kapoor/while-making-my-first-film-as-a-director-my-father-and-grandfather/) [Randhir Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randhir-kapoor/) > [My grandfather used to say to me when I was a boy, "Getting knocked down is no big prize - it's getting up that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-allen/my-grandfather-used-to-say-to-me-when-i-was-a-boy-getting-knocked/) [Kevin Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-allen/) ## More by S. I. Hayakawa > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [It is the individual who knows how little they know about themselves who stands the most reasonable chance of finding out something about themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/it-is-the-individual-who-knows-how-little-they-know-about-themselves/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [So I will say it with relish. Give me a hamburger but hold the lawsuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/so-i-will-say-it-with-relish-give-me-a-hamburger-but-hold-the-lawsuit/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [How anybody dresses is indicative of his self-concept. If students are dirty and ragged, it indicates they are not interested in tidying up their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/how-anybody-dresses-is-indicative-of-his-self-concept-if-students-are/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Language is a unifying instrument which binds people together. When people speak one language they become as one, they become a society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/language-is-a-unifying-instrument-which-binds-people-together-when/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [The English Language Amendment says above all, 'Let's see to it that our children, our young people, learn English. Let us not deny them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-english-language-amendment-says-above-all-let-s-see-to-it-that/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [We live in a highly competitive society, each of us trying to outdo the other in wealth, in popularity or social prestige, in dress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/we-live-in-a-highly-competitive-society-each-of-us-trying-to-outdo/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [People who think of themselves as tough-minded and realistic, among them influential political leaders and businessmen as well as go-getters and hustlers of smaller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/people-who-think-of-themselves-as-tough-minded-and-realistic-among/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [If everybody is rewarded just for being alive, you get the same sort of effect as you do when you reward every student just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/if-everybody-is-rewarded-just-for-being-alive-you-get-the-same-sort/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [The meanings of words are not in the words, they are in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-meanings-of-words-are-not-in-the-words-they-are-in-us/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [In the case of drama (stage, movies, television ), there appear to be people in almost every audience who never quite fully realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/in-the-case-of-drama-stage-movies-television-there-appear-to-be/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Good teachers never say anything. What they do is create the conditions under which learning takes place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/good-teachers-never-say-anything-what-they-do-is-create-the/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Agreement is brought about by changing people's minds - other people's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/agreement-is-brought-about-by-changing-people-s-minds-other-people-s/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Republicans are people who, if you were drowning 50 feet from shore, would throw you a 25-foot rope and tell you to swim the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/republicans-are-people-who-if-you-were-drowning-50-feet-from-shore/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [In a very real sense, people who have read good literature have lived more than people who cannot or will not read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/in-a-very-real-sense-people-who-have-read-good-literature-have-lived/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) [Explore all 44 S. I. Hayakawa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) ## More Abraham quotes > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“Never you look down on your Abraham because of your Sarah because the blessing is not in the womb of Sarah but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/never-you-look-down-on-your-abraham-because-of-your-sarah-because-the/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“Whatever you are, be a good one.”   Abraham Lincoln”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rriiver-nyile/whatever-you-are-be-a-good-one-abraham-lincoln/) [Rriiver Nyile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rriiver-nyile/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [It was psychobabbler Abraham Maslow who wrote of the phenomena of self-actualization. What Maslow failed to grasp is that reaching true self-actualization can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/it-was-psychobabbler-abraham-maslow-who-wrote-of-the-phenomena-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“9. Abraham’s death (25:1 – 11) After Sarah’s death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah. Abraham was a rejuvenated old man and continued to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sailhamer/9-abraham-s-death-25-1-11-after-sarah-s-death-abraham-took-another/) [John H. Sailhamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sailhamer/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Everybody faces obstacles. And I looked to people who had been through many to succeed in life. Abraham Lincoln, born to a poor family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everybody-faces-obstacles-and-i-looked-to-people-who-had-been-through/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [Someone asked me...how it felt and I was reminded of a story that a fellow townsman of ours used to tell--Abraham Lincoln. They asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-asked-me-how-it-felt-and-i-was-reminded-of-a-story-that-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American foreign policy and military might have opened an opportunity for the Gospel in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/american-foreign-policy-and-military-might-have-opened-an-opportunity/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) [Browse all 484 Abraham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The last thing a scientist would do is cling to a map because he inherited it from his grandfather, or because it was used by George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S. I. 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