Ifs Quote by Terence Tao
“... it can often be profitable to try a technique on a problem even if you know in advance that it cannot possibly solve the problem completely.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Mathematics Seminar, UCLA, 2018
Trying a method known to be insufficient can still yield useful insights or partial progress.
In simple terms: Even flawed methods can help.
Experiment despite doubts.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- algorithm design
- engineering challenges
- scientific inquiry
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it worth trying a known‑limited technique?
- What can be learned from partial success?
Relying on known limits may waste resources.