--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science has a simple faith, which…" description: "\"Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple ways too, have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/vannevar-bush-16927_abandon_science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transce_2570034.jpg" --- # Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility… ![“Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple ways too, have it in some form and in some degree. It is the faith that it is the privilege of man to learn to understand, and that this is his mission. If we…” quote by Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/vannevar-bush-16927_abandon_science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transce_2570034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/vannevar-bush-16927_abandon_science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transce_2570034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/vannevar-bush-16927_abandon_science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transce_2570034.jpg) > “Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple ways too, have it in some form and in some degree. It is the faith that it is the privilege of man to learn to understand, and that this is his mission. If we abandon that mission under stress we shall abandon it forever, for stress will not cease. Knowledge for the sake of understanding, not merely to prevail, that is the essence of our being. None can define its limits, or set its ultimate boundaries.” [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science is driven by a faith in learning and understanding, not just utility. **In simple terms:** Science seeks understanding. Key Takeaway Pursue knowledge for its own sake. Themes knowledge learning purpose Mood inquisitive reflective Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - research - education - innovation - policy making Key Concepts epistemology philosophy of science Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your curiosity? - How can you balance utility and wonder? A Different Perspective Practical pressures can diminish pure inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Degree Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-faith-1682759/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-science-412487/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-men-1512282/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-faith/) [Simple ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-ways/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Under stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/under-stress/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Utility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utility/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [I think men of science as well as other men need to learn from Christ, and I think Christians whose minds are scientific are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/i-think-men-of-science-as-well-as-other-men-need-to-learn-from-christ/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [For most of Western civilization there was no real division between the realms of science, divinity, and artistic endeavor - they were just three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/for-most-of-western-civilization-there-was-no-real-division-between/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [All of our lives are governed by a certain degree of faith in bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/all-of-our-lives-are-governed-by-a-certain-degree-of-faith-in-bullshit/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. It is the faith that it is the privilege of man to learn to understand, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-it-is-the-faith/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [The Iyf so short, the craft so long to lerne, Thassay so hard, so sharp the conquenng. . . . . For out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-iyf-so-short-the-craft-so-long-to-lerne-thassay-so-hard-so-sharp/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Nothing great in science has ever been done by men, whatever their powers, in whom the divine afflatus of the truth-seeker was wanting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/nothing-great-in-science-has-ever-been-done-by-men-whatever-their/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [The evil effect of science upon men is principally this, that by far the greatest number of those who wish to display a knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-evil-effect-of-science-upon-men-is-principally-this-that-by-far/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [In science men have learned consciously to subordinate themselves to a common purpose without losing the individuality of their achievements. Each one knows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-desmond-bernal/in-science-men-have-learned-consciously-to-subordinate-themselves-to/) [John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-desmond-bernal/) > [I believe that in spite of the recent triumphs of science, men haven't changed much in the last two thousand years; and in consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/i-believe-that-in-spite-of-the-recent-triumphs-of-science-men-haven-t/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [It was a great step in science when men became convinced that, in order to understand the nature of things, they must begin by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/it-was-a-great-step-in-science-when-men-became-convinced-that-in/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [For out of old fields, as men saith, Cometh all this new corn from year to year; And out of old books, in good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-out-of-old-fields-as-men-saith-cometh-all-this-new-corn-from-year/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“But in the cause of science men are expected to suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/but-in-the-cause-of-science-men-are-expected-to-suffer/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [So far I have been speaking of theoretical science, which is an attempt to understand the world. Practical science, which is an attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/so-far-i-have-been-speaking-of-theoretical-science-which-is-an/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The lyf so short, the craft so longe to lerne. Th' assay so hard, so sharp the conquerynge, The dredful joye, alwey that slit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-lyf-so-short-the-craft-so-longe-to-lerne-th-assay-so-hard-so/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) ## More by Vannevar Bush > [The camera hound of the future wears on his forehead a lump a little larger than a walnut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-camera-hound-of-the-future-wears-on-his-forehead-a-lump-a-little/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [If scientific reasoning were limited to the logical processes of arithmetic, we should not get very far in our understanding of the physical world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/if-scientific-reasoning-were-limited-to-the-logical-processes-of/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Science can give mankind a better standard of living, better health and a better mental life, if mankind in turn gives science the sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-can-give-mankind-a-better-standard-of-living-better-health/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [The responsibility for the creation of new scientific knowledge - and for most of its application - rests on that small body of men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-responsibility-for-the-creation-of-new-scientific-knowledge-and/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [If scientific reasoning were limited to the logical processes of arithmetic, we should not get very far in our understanding of the physical world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/if-scientific-reasoning-were-limited-to-the-logical-processes-of-2/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. It is the faith that it is the privilege of man to learn to understand, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-it-is-the-faith/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [A belief may be larger than a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/a-belief-may-be-larger-than-a-fact/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [It was through the Second World War that most of us suddenlyappreciated for the first time the power of man's concentrated efforts to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/it-was-through-the-second-world-war-that-most-of-us/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Wholly new forms of encyclopedias will appear, ready made with a mesh of associative trails running through them, ready to be dropped into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/wholly-new-forms-of-encyclopedias-will-appear-ready-made-with-a-mesh/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [Give these people money, let them play, and they'll come up with something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/give-these-people-money-let-them-play-and-they-ll-come-up-with/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [The scene changes but the aspirations of men of good will persist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-scene-changes-but-the-aspirations-of-men-of-good-will-persist/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [A record, if it is to be useful to science, must be continuously extended, it must be stored, and above all it must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/a-record-if-it-is-to-be-useful-to-science-must-be-continuously/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [ The summation of human experience is being expanded at a prodigious rate, \[but\] the means we use for threading through the consequent maze to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/the-summation-of-human-experience-is-being-expanded-at-a-prodigious/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [There will always be plenty of things to compute in the detailed affairs of millions of people doing complicated things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/there-will-always-be-plenty-of-things-to-compute-in-the-detailed/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) [Explore all 38 Vannevar Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) ## More Abandon quotes > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) [Kenan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-malik/) > [The purpose of a spirit filled life is to demonstrate the supernatural power of our living God so that the unsaved multitudes will abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-osborn/the-purpose-of-a-spirit-filled-life-is-to-demonstrate-the/) [T.L. Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-osborn/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I would leave at once, but it would be cruel to abandon a lady in a foreign land with a maniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-leave-at-once-but-it-would-be-cruel-to-abandon-a-lady-in-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. Victory is a treacherous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/every-great-thing-starts-with-an-idea-followed-by-a-doubt-and-finally/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't give up because things are hard, but work harder, when you think of giving up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/don-t-give-up-because-things-are-hard-but-work-harder-when-you-think/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I care so deeply about this matter that I'm willing to take on the legal penalties, to sit in this prison cell, to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-care-so-deeply-about-this-matter-that-i-m-willing-to-take-on-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I've been to unpretty places with the roles I've played, and I'm attracted to reckless abandon. I like being taken to the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-ve-been-to-unpretty-places-with-the-roles-i-ve-played-and-i-m/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) [Browse all 1,142 Abandon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple ways too, have it in some form and in some degree. It is the faith that it is the privilege of man to learn to understand, and that this is his mission. If we abandon that mission under stress we shall abandon it forever, for stress will not cease. Knowledge for the sake of understanding, not merely to prevail, that is the essence of our being. None can define its limits, or set its ultimate boundaries.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vannevar Bush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abandon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/vannevar-bush-16927_abandon_science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transce_2570034.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/vannevar-bush-16927_abandon_science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transce_2570034.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/vannevar-bush-16927_abandon_science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transce_2570034.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for…” — Vannevar Bush", "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": "Vannevar Bush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Science has a simple faith, which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of-2/#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 } } ] } ```