--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All that was required to measure the…" description: "\"All that was required to measure the planet was a man with a stick and a brain. In other words, couple an intellect with some experimental apparatus an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/simon-singh-12419_brain_all-that-was-required-to-measure-the-pla_2390573.jpg" --- # All that was required to measure the planet was a man with… ![“All that was required to measure the planet was a man with a stick and a brain. In other words, couple an intellect with some experimental apparatus and almost anything seems achievable.” quote by Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/simon-singh-12419_brain_all-that-was-required-to-measure-the-pla_2390573.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/simon-singh-12419_brain_all-that-was-required-to-measure-the-pla_2390573.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/simon-singh-12419_brain_all-that-was-required-to-measure-the-pla_2390573.jpg) > “All that was required to measure the planet was a man with a stick and a brain. In other words, couple an intellect with some experimental apparatus and almost anything seems achievable.” [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Combining intellect with simple tools can achieve great scientific feats. **In simple terms:** Mind plus tools = big results. Key Takeaway Leverage basic tools for big ideas. Themes science innovation creativity resourcefulness Mood inspired practical Type educational motivational When to use this quote - DIY experiments - educational kits - low‑budget research Key Concepts experimental method problem solving engineering Questions to Reflect On - What tools can you use to solve a problem? - When is collaboration essential? 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There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [Plato compared the intellect to a charioteer guiding the powerful horses of the passions, i.e., he gave it both the power of perception and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-cattell/plato-compared-the-intellect-to-a-charioteer-guiding-the-powerful/) [Raymond Cattell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-cattell/) > [I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-collect-my-tools-sight-smell-touch-taste-hearing-intellect-night/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. 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Wit consists in combination of ideas, punning in combination of words only. We wonder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-hosmer/we-do-not-claim-that-punning-is-legitimate-wit-wit-consists-in/) [Harriet Hosmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-hosmer/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [“Your mind has the intellect to lift the world, your heart has the wisdom to better the world, and your soul has the genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-mind-has-the-intellect-to-lift-the-world-your-heart-has-the/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by Simon Singh > [All I am saying is that if you want to answer a question, then we need to examine and weigh up the evidence. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/all-i-am-saying-is-that-if-you-want-to-answer-a-question-then-we-need/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [One of the common responses to criticism of psychics is to suggest that even if their powers are illusory, there is no harm done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/one-of-the-common-responses-to-criticism-of-psychics-is-to-suggest/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [Scientists aren't necessarily good communicators, because they aren't trained to be good communicators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/scientists-aren-t-necessarily-good-communicators-because-they-aren-t/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [Many of the worst cases that triggered the campaign for libel reform involved corporations suing critics, so these particular sections of the bill are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/many-of-the-worst-cases-that-triggered-the-campaign-for-libel-reform/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [The only consolation is that homeopathy can only be practised on animals by a fully trained vet or under the supervision of one, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/the-only-consolation-is-that-homeopathy-can-only-be-practised-on/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [“Pascal was even convinced that he could use his theories to justify a belief in God. 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The smart thing is not to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/people-back-down-because-the-libel-system-is-so-utterly-hostile-to/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [When I was finishing my PhD, I could just see people who were a bit quicker and brighter and smarter than me and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/when-i-was-finishing-my-phd-i-could-just-see-people-who-were-a-bit/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [In my case, I estimate that the members of the British Chiropractic Association have an annual turnover of £100m, and the BCA decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/in-my-case-i-estimate-that-the-members-of-the-british-chiropractic/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [Part of the problem is that if anybody has a gut reaction about an issue, they can go online and have it backed up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/part-of-the-problem-is-that-if-anybody-has-a-gut-reaction-about-an/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [Sunspots are hubs of intense magnetic activity and they trigger solar flares that launch charged particles, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation and radio waves at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/sunspots-are-hubs-of-intense-magnetic-activity-and-they-trigger-solar/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [“In April 1977, Rivest, Shamir and Adleman spent Passover at the house of a student, and had consumed significant amounts of Manischewitz wine before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/in-april-1977-rivest-shamir-and-adleman-spent-passover-at-the-house/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [The worlds of maths and science have a long history of naming important objects after people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/the-worlds-of-maths-and-science-have-a-long-history-of-naming/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [What shocks me is people who have no expertise championing a view that runs counter to the mainstream scientific consensus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/what-shocks-me-is-people-who-have-no-expertise-championing-a-view/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) [Explore all 55 Simon Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. 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/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. 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