---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From a social standpoint the man of…"
description: "\"“From a social standpoint the man of science does not exist.”\" — W. Somerset Maugham"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/w-somerset-maugham-237_exist_from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-scie_307472.jpg"
---

#  From a social standpoint the man of science does not exist.

![“From a social standpoint the man of science does not exist.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/w-somerset-maugham-237_exist_from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-scie_307472.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/w-somerset-maugham-237_exist_from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-scie_307472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/w-somerset-maugham-237_exist_from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-scie_307472.jpg)

> ““From a social standpoint the man of science does not exist.””

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The notion of a purely objective scientist is a myth; all science is influenced by social context.

**In simple terms:** Science is never completely free from society.

Key Takeaway

Recognize social influences on scientific work.

Themes

science society objectivity

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

- research funding decisions
- policy advice
- public health messaging

Key Concepts

bias culture philosophy of science

Questions to Reflect On

- How does culture shape scientific questions?
- Can true objectivity ever be achieved?

A Different Perspective

Science claims objectivity can overlook hidden biases.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Does Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-exist/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Man Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-science/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Social Standpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-standpoint-2924100/) [Standpoint Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standpoint-man-2924101/)

## Related quotes

> [The standpoint of the man who relies on religious experience for capturing Reality must always remain individual and incommunicable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-iqbal/the-standpoint-of-the-man-who-relies-on-religious-experience-for/)

[Muhammad Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-iqbal/)

> [God exists or God does not exist. Leave it for us. Your task is to learn how to live peacefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/god-exists-or-god-does-not-exist-leave-it-for-us-your-task-is-to/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“Does all that exist of itself, or is it only an emanation of myself, a logical development of my ego which alone has existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/does-all-that-exist-of-itself-or-is-it-only-an-emanation-of-myself-a/)

[Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/)

> [“He who does not feel me is not real to me, therefore SHE does not exist!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/he-who-does-not-feel-me-is-not-real-to-me-therefore-she-does-not-exist/)

[Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/)

> [The supernatural does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/the-supernatural-does-not-exist/)

[Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/)

> [Deadpool does not exist in any way, shape, or form without me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liefeld/deadpool-does-not-exist-in-any-way-shape-or-form-without-me/)

[Rob Liefeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liefeld/)

> [A man does not exist until he is drunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/a-man-does-not-exist-until-he-is-drunk/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [A God who makes no demands, is the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/a-god-who-makes-no-demands-is-the-functional-equivalent-of-a-god-who/)

[D. Todd Christofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-todd-christofferson/)

> [“A higher power does exist. The forces of day-to-day reality seem to take hold and become the truth for you, yet truth is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-herrera/a-higher-power-does-exist-the-forces-of-day-to-day-reality-seem-to/)

[Elizabeth Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-herrera/)

> [The perfect striker does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-perfect-striker-does-not-exist/)

[Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/)

> [True relaxation, which would do me the world of good, does not exist for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-klimt/true-relaxation-which-would-do-me-the-world-of-good-does-not-exist/)

[Gustav Klimt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-klimt/)

> [“...If God really does exist, and is not just a myth, it must have consequence for the whole of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-worth/if-god-really-does-exist-and-is-not-just-a-myth-it-must-have/)

[Jennifer Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-worth/)

> [Don't be afraid of what you don't know coz it does not exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-of-what-you-don-t-know-coz-it-does-not-exist/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Love, it does exist, believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devania-annesya/love-it-does-exist-believe-it/)

[Devania Annesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devania-annesya/)

> [God is necessary, and therefore must exist...But I know that he does not and cannot exist...Don't you understand that a man with these two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-necessary-and-therefore-must-exist-but-i-know-that-he-does-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by W. Somerset Maugham

> [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [“A man's work reveals him. In social intercourse he gives you the surface that he wishes the world to accept, but in his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-s-work-reveals-him-in-social-intercourse-he-gives-you-the/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [The world is hard and cruel. We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-world-is-hard-and-cruel-we-are-here-none-knows-why-and-we-go-none/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [“There is no more merit in having read a thousand books than in having ploughed a thousand fields.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-is-no-more-merit-in-having-read-a-thousand-books-than-in-having/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [“I wanted to live again and again. I was willing to accept every sort of life, no matter what its pain and sorrow; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-wanted-to-live-again-and-again-i-was-willing-to-accept-every-sort/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [In Hollywood, the women are all peaches. It makes one long for an apple occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-hollywood-the-women-are-all-peaches-it-makes-one-long-for-an-apple/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [“His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door-that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/his-love-became-a-prison-from-which-he-longed-to-escape-but-he-had/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-did-not-believe-him-capable-of-love-that-is-an-emotion-in-which/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [If only the good were a little less heavy-footed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-only-the-good-were-a-little-less-heavy-footed/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perfection-has-one-grave-defect-it-is-apt-to-be-dull/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

> [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/)

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

[Explore all 840 W. Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

## More Exist quotes

> [A vacuum can only exist, I imagine, by the things which enclose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/a-vacuum-can-only-exist-i-imagine-by-the-things-which-enclose-it/)

[Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/)

> [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/)

[Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/)

> [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/)

[Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/)

> [I don't believe in moral victories. I don't think in pro ball they exist, and they shouldn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/i-don-t-believe-in-moral-victories-i-don-t-think-in-pro-ball-they/)

[Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/)

> [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/)

[Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/)

> [“Must a people disappear for us to know they exist? Mano Dayak”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-dayak/must-a-people-disappear-for-us-to-know-they-exist-mano-dayak/)

[Mano Dayak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mano-dayak/)

> [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [“And then again, maybe people and things are the same as emotions: Even when you can't see them or feel them or be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-henriquez/and-then-again-maybe-people-and-things-are-the-same-as-emotions-even/)

[Cristina Henriquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-henriquez/)

> [When you rely on incentives, you undermine virtues. Then when you discover that you actually need people who want to do the right thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-schwartz/when-you-rely-on-incentives-you-undermine-virtues-then-when-you/)

[Barry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-schwartz/)

> [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/)

[John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/)

> [“Human race had never planned to show up in this universe. I wonder whether current human efforts are relevant to its sustainability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/human-race-had-never-planned-to-show-up-in-this-universe-i-wonder/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/)

[Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/)

> [Happiness, I do not know where to turn to discover you on earth, in the air or the sky; yet I know you exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia-de-castro/happiness-i-do-not-know-where-to-turn-to-discover-you-on-earth-in-the/)

[Rosalia de Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia-de-castro/)

> [Is when you can not exist without your loves smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff/is-when-you-can-not-exist-without-your-loves-smile/)

[Jeff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff/)

> [Liberty does not exist where rights are on one side and power on the other. To be liberty, rights must be armed with vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/liberty-does-not-exist-where-rights-are-on-one-side-and-power-on-the/)

[Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/)

[Browse all 2,297 Exist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“From a social standpoint the man of science does not exist.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "W. Somerset Maugham"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-science-does-not-exist/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Exist"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-science-does-not-exist/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/w-somerset-maugham-237_exist_from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-scie_307472.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/w-somerset-maugham-237_exist_from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-scie_307472.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/w-somerset-maugham-237_exist_from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-scie_307472.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“From a social standpoint the man of science does not exist.” — W. Somerset Maugham",
                "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": "W. Somerset Maugham",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“From a social standpoint the man...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-science-does-not-exist/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/from-a-social-standpoint-the-man-of-science-does-not-exist/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
