--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather be right than rigorous." description: "\"I would rather be right than rigorous.\" — Stephen Hawking" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/stephen-hawking-389_mathematics_i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous-21_2169898.jpg" --- # I would rather be right than rigorous. ![“I would rather be right than rigorous.” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/stephen-hawking-389_mathematics_i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous-21_2169898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/stephen-hawking-389_mathematics_i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous-21_2169898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/stephen-hawking-389_mathematics_i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous-21_2169898.jpg) > “I would rather be right than rigorous.” [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing being correct over strict rigor can be practical, but may sacrifice depth. **In simple terms:** Being right is sometimes more useful than being meticulous. Key Takeaway Balance accuracy with thoroughness. Themes science precision pragmatism Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - research - problem solving - academic writing - policy making Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When is rigor essential? - How do you verify correctness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on correctness can overlook nuanced understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right Rigorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-rigorous-4642127/) [Rigorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigorous/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Mathematics is of two kinds, Rigorous and Physical. The former is Narrow: the latter Bold and Broad. 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Pretty rigorous schooling; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jurasik/that-was-my-aspiration-so-i-was-there-in-a-seminary-with-just-boys/) [Peter Jurasik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jurasik/) ## More by Stephen Hawking > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-are-the-product-of-quantum-fluctuations-in-the-very-early-universe/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The human race does not have a very good record of intelligent behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-does-not-have-a-very-good-record-of-intelligent/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“We have finally found something that doesn’t have a cause, because there was no time for a cause to exist in. 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Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) [Browse all 5,382 Mathematics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would rather be right than rigorous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Hawking" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mathematics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/stephen-hawking-389_mathematics_i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous-21_2169898.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/stephen-hawking-389_mathematics_i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous-21_2169898.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/stephen-hawking-389_mathematics_i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous-21_2169898.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would rather be right than rigorous.” — Stephen Hawking", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Hawking", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would rather be right than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-would-rather-be-right-than-rigorous/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```