--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to know what biological…" description: "\"“If you want to know what biological incompetence looks like, just take a look at high altitude professional astronomy.”\" — Steven Magee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/steven-magee-129_astronomy_if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-inco_1891616.jpg" --- # If you want to know what biological incompetence looks… ![“If you want to know what biological incompetence looks like, just take a look at high altitude professional astronomy.” quote by Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/steven-magee-129_astronomy_if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-inco_1891616.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/steven-magee-129_astronomy_if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-inco_1891616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/steven-magee-129_astronomy_if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-inco_1891616.jpg) > ““If you want to know what biological incompetence looks like, just take a look at high altitude professional astronomy.”” [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High altitude professional astronomy illustrates extreme incompetence when lacking proper expertise. **In simple terms:** Bad performance shows when expertise is missing. Key Takeaway Check credentials before trusting experts. Themes competence expertise evaluation Mood critical skeptical Type analytical cautionary When to use this quote - hiring decisions - project leadership - scientific research - team building Key Concepts risk assessment professional standards Questions to Reflect On - What criteria do you use to assess expertise? - How can you verify competence beyond reputation? A Different Perspective May overlook other factors influencing performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altitude/) [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Biological Incompetence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biological-incompetence-2736618/) [Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) [High Altitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-altitude-578202/) [High-altitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-altitude/) [Hypoxia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypoxia/) [Incompetence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetence/) [Incompetence Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetence-looks-2736619/) [Oxygen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxygen/) [Professional Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-astronomy-1746471/) [Professional-astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-astronomy-149877/) [Radiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radiation/) [Summit-brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summit-brain-180580/) ## Related quotes > [“There was no management training in high altitude professional astronomy that covered the long-term health effects that were appearing in their mal-acclimatized staff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-was-no-management-training-in-high-altitude-professional/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The illnesses in high altitude professional astronomy are generally a mixture of long term altitude sickness and workplace toxicity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-illnesses-in-high-altitude-professional-astronomy-are-generally-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There are serious long-term adverse health effects associated with being a high altitude worker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-are-serious-long-term-adverse-health-effects-associated-with-2/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The definition of ‘Summit Brain’ is a malfunctioning brain that is at high altitude and/or is hypoxic and/or is radiation exposed and/or has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-definition-of-summit-brain-is-a-malfunctioning-brain-that-is-at/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“UK professional astronomy worked differently from USA professional astronomy. When I told my UK employer I was going to work for another company, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/uk-professional-astronomy-worked-differently-from-usa-professional/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The oldest computer hardware I worked on was in professional astronomy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-oldest-computer-hardware-i-worked-on-was-in-professional-astronomy/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“As I watched my mental and physical health rapidly decline during a decade of working in high altitude professional astronomy, I became suspicious about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/as-i-watched-my-mental-and-physical-health-rapidly-decline-during-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“They build it, get it working and keep band-aiding it until it completely fails, then it becomes a crisis and gets updated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/they-build-it-get-it-working-and-keep-band-aiding-it-until-it/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I was never aware of any professional astronomy summit worker that had received formal industry recognized training in the safe handling of cryogenic fluids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-was-never-aware-of-any-professional-astronomy-summit-worker-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“It was a mistake to pursue a career in high altitude professional astronomy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-was-a-mistake-to-pursue-a-career-in-high-altitude-professional/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“High altitude professional astronomy is a hypoxic job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/high-altitude-professional-astronomy-is-a-hypoxic-job/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Some professional astronomy telescopes are associated with unusual illnesses and deaths in their workers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/some-professional-astronomy-telescopes-are-associated-with-unusual/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“When I became aware of the extensive health and safety issues in professional astronomy, I was legally required to alert the unsuspecting workers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-i-became-aware-of-the-extensive-health-and-safety-issues-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I consider my low exposure to industrial carbon dioxide in professional astronomy to be a good thing, as opposed to the optics department that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-consider-my-low-exposure-to-industrial-carbon-dioxide-in/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More by Steven Magee > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The world is witnessing one of the greatest frauds the Florida government has ever engaged in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-world-is-witnessing-one-of-the-greatest-frauds-the-florida/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is largely an interrogation agency for whistle-blowers that extracts their full range of knowledge without upholding their legal rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/occupational-safety-health-administration-osha-is-largely-an/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The medical profession is a money making con, they will keep you sick on a variety of expensive prescriptions and on a yo-yo into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-medical-profession-is-a-money-making-con-they-will-keep-you-sick/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There is a time and place for electromagnetic shielding and I regard it as a last resort due to the long term biological problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-electromagnetic-shielding-and-i-regard/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Publicly telling the truth on social media can be one of the most effective healing journeys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/publicly-telling-the-truth-on-social-media-can-be-one-of-the-most/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The W. M. Keck Observatory is the only employer that has surprised me during my employment with urine tests for illegal drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-w-m-keck-observatory-is-the-only-employer-that-has-surprised-me/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I will do everything I legally can to shut down the toxic Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project atop Mauna Kea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-will-do-everything-i-legally-can-to-shut-down-the-toxic-thirty/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The difference between President Trump and Steven Magee? Steven Magee publicly acknowledges his mental illnesses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-difference-between-president-trump-and-steven-magee-steven-magee/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There were a lot of stressed out people in the company as we were discovering how dangerous the DeSoto Solar Farm was!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-were-a-lot-of-stressed-out-people-in-the-company-as-we-were/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Interacting with a corrupt government judge is futile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/interacting-with-a-corrupt-government-judge-is-futile/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Explore all 1,204 Steven Magee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More Altitude quotes > [Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/change-your-attitude-and-gain-some-altitude-believe-me-you-ll-love-it/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I will do everything I legally can to shut down the toxic Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project atop Mauna Kea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-will-do-everything-i-legally-can-to-shut-down-the-toxic-thirty/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Over 275,000 people had signed to end the construction of the TMT telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) by week 20 of the protest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/over-275-000-people-had-signed-to-end-the-construction-of-the-tmt/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The toxicity of medical and industrial gas to the human depends on where it is used. A gas that is regarded as safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-toxicity-of-medical-and-industrial-gas-to-the-human-depends-on/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-is-not-your-aptitude-but-your-attitude-that-determines-your/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Summit Lag occurs when a summit worker is kept in a permanent state of mal-acclimatization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/summit-lag-occurs-when-a-summit-worker-is-kept-in-a-permanent-state/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed occupational diseases and became disabled at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the-premier-astronomical/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall - it's great when you stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-darwin/climbing-at-altitude-is-like-hitting-your-head-against-a-brick-wall/) [Chris Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-darwin/) > [Attitude and not the Aptitude decide the Altitude you reach in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/attitude-and-not-the-aptitude-decide-the-altitude-you-reach-in-life/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Plastic bottles of Gatorade were given free to very high altitude workers on Mauna Kea and they were advised to drink it while on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/plastic-bottles-of-gatorade-were-given-free-to-very-high-altitude/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [With the altitude in the Rocky Mountains, the ball jumps off your foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/with-the-altitude-in-the-rocky-mountains-the-ball-jumps-off-your-foot/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [I believe it is our attitude that determines our altitude. It is our attitude that allows us to soar above those things that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-believe-it-is-our-attitude-that-determines-our-altitude-it-is-our/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [“It's your ATTITUDE not your APTITUDE that ultimately determines your ALTITUDE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-your-attitude-not-your-aptitude-that-ultimately-determines-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Poor diet combined with high altitude exposures may bring increased risks of illnesses and cancers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/poor-diet-combined-with-high-altitude-exposures-may-bring-increased/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Browse all 214 Altitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you want to know what biological incompetence looks like, just take a look at high altitude professional astronomy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Magee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-incompetence-looks-like-just-take/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Altitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-incompetence-looks-like-just-take/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/steven-magee-129_astronomy_if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-inco_1891616.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/steven-magee-129_astronomy_if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-inco_1891616.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffe/steven-magee-129_astronomy_if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-inco_1891616.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to know what biological incompetence looks like, just take a look at high altitude professional…” — Steven Magee", "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": "Steven Magee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If you want to know what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-incompetence-looks-like-just-take/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/if-you-want-to-know-what-biological-incompetence-looks-like-just-take/#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 } } ] } ```