Bricks Quote by Stephen Jay Gould
“Before Kuhn, most scientists followed the place-a-stone-in-the-bright-temple-of-knowledge tradition, and would have told you that they hoped, above all, to lay many of the bricks, perhaps even the keystone, of truth's temple. Now most scientists of vision hope to foment revolution. We are, therefore, awash in revolutions, most self-proclaimed.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Structure of Evolutionary Theory", 2002
The quote contrasts old scientific conservatism with modern revolutionary ambition, noting a shift toward frequent, self‑declared revolutions.
In simple terms: Science moved from cautious building to frequent upheavals.
Key Takeaway
Balance tradition with innovation.
Themes
science
revolution
history
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
academic
introspective
When to use this quote
- research funding decisions
- academic publishing
- policy making
Key Concepts
Philosophy of science
paradigm shift
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines a genuine scientific breakthrough?
- How can we ensure revolutions are substantive?
A Different Perspective
Revolutions can be superficial without rigor.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
