--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a mistake to believe that science…" description: "\"It is a mistake to believe that science consists in nothing but conclusively proved propositions, and it is unjust to demand that it should. It is a de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/sigmund-freud-360_authority_it-is-a-mistake-to-believe-that-science_2879070.jpg" --- # It is a mistake to believe that science consists in… ![“It is a mistake to believe that science consists in nothing but conclusively proved propositions, and it is unjust to demand that it should. It is a demand made by those who feel a craving for authority in some form to replace the religious catechism by something else, even a scientific one.” quote by Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/sigmund-freud-360_authority_it-is-a-mistake-to-believe-that-science_2879070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/sigmund-freud-360_authority_it-is-a-mistake-to-believe-that-science_2879070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/sigmund-freud-360_authority_it-is-a-mistake-to-believe-that-science_2879070.jpg) > “It is a mistake to believe that science consists in nothing but conclusively proved propositions, and it is unjust to demand that it should. It is a demand made by those who feel a craving for authority in some form to replace the religious catechism by something else, even a scientific one.” [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science should not be reduced to only proven facts; demanding absolute certainty seeks authority and mimics religious dogma. **In simple terms:** Science isn’t just proven facts; demanding certainty seeks authority. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and embrace uncertainty. Themes science authority philosophy critical thinking Mood thoughtful critical inquisitive Type philosophical reflective inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - policy making - education - public discourse Key Concepts epistemology dogma skepticism Questions to Reflect On - What role should uncertainty play in scientific progress? - How does authority influence our acceptance of knowledge? A Different Perspective Science cannot answer all questions; overreliance on certainty can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Catechism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catechism/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [The whole value of science consists in the power which it confers upon us of applying to one object the knowledge acquired from like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stanley-jevons/the-whole-value-of-science-consists-in-the-power-which-it-confers/) [William Stanley Jevons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stanley-jevons/) > [Science consists exactly of those forms of knowledge that can be verified and duplicated by anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-lloyd/science-consists-exactly-of-those-forms-of-knowledge-that-can-be/) [Seth Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-lloyd/) > [Nothing before had ever made me thoroughly realise, though I had read various scientific books, that science consists in grouping facts so that general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/nothing-before-had-ever-made-me-thoroughly-realise-though-i-had-read/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [The unity of all science consists alone in its method, not in its material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pearson/the-unity-of-all-science-consists-alone-in-its-method-not-in-its/) [Karl Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pearson/) > [Every science consists in the coordination of facts; if the different observations were entirely isolated, there would be no science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auguste-comte/every-science-consists-in-the-coordination-of-facts-if-the-different/) [Auguste Comte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auguste-comte/) > [Natural science is founded on minute critical views of the general order of events taking place upon our globe, corrected, enlarged, or exalted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/natural-science-is-founded-on-minute-critical-views-of-the-general/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [The scientific method is designed to help investigators overcome the most entrenched human cognitive habit: the confirmation bias, the tendency to notice and remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/the-scientific-method-is-designed-to-help-investigators-overcome-the/) [Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/) > [People who believe in science have a hard time believing in ghosts and the supernatural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/people-who-believe-in-science-have-a-hard-time-believing-in-ghosts/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [Even people who don't believe in science still have to believe in gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/even-people-who-don-t-believe-in-science-still-have-to-believe-in/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [I believe science has a wonderful ability, in an unbiased way, to offer hope to many people who are confused, but it's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/i-believe-science-has-a-wonderful-ability-in-an-unbiased-way-to-offer/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [Science is the key to our future, and if you dont believe in science, then youre holding everybody back. 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