--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The virtues of science are skepticism and…" description: "\"The virtues of science are skepticism and independence of thought.\" — Walter Gilbert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/walter-gilbert-24058_doubt_the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-an_910543.png" --- # The virtues of science are skepticism and independence of… ![“The virtues of science are skepticism and independence of thought.” quote by Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/walter-gilbert-24058_doubt_the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-an_910543.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/walter-gilbert-24058_doubt_the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-an_910543.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/walter-gilbert-24058_doubt_the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-an_910543.png) > “The virtues of science are skepticism and independence of thought.” [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science thrives on questioning and thinking independently, which fuels progress. **In simple terms:** Science needs doubt and independence. Key Takeaway Cultivate skepticism and independent thought. Themes science critical thinking independence Mood curious analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research labs - education - policy making - media analysis Key Concepts philosophy of science methodology innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance doubt with confidence? - When is independence harmful? A Different Perspective Excessive skepticism can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-skepticism-1331102/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Skepticism Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism-independence-1331103/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Virtues Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-science-1331104/) ## Related quotes > [By the worldly standards of public life, all scholars in their work are of course oddly virtuous. They do not make wild claims, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/by-the-worldly-standards-of-public-life-all-scholars-in-their-work/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“An extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof. ('On the Extraordinary: An Attempt at Clarification", Zetetic Scholar, Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 11, 1978)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcello-truzzi/an-extraordinary-claim-requires-extraordinary-proof-on-the/) [Marcello Truzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcello-truzzi/) > [A skeptic as to all ideas, including especially my own, I have never suffered a pang when the ideas of some other imbecile prevailed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-skeptic-as-to-all-ideas-including-especially-my-own-i-have-never/) [H. L. 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As a philosophical thesis, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juli-n-mar-as/nevertheless-a-distinction-must-be-made-between-skepticism-as-a/) [Julián Marías](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juli-n-mar-as/) > [There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/there-is-one-thing-a-professor-can-be-absolutely-certain-of-almost/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [“David Hume, in a moment of acute skepticism, felt panicky in the solitude of his study and had to go out and join his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barrett/david-hume-in-a-moment-of-acute-skepticism-felt-panicky-in-the/) [William Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barrett/) > [“Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/scepticism-is-as-much-the-result-of-knowledge-as-knowledge-is-of/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [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/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Scepticismcan never be thoroughly applied, else life would come to a standstill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/scepticismcan-never-be-thoroughly-applied-else-life-would-come-to-a/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [...the number of saintly men has not yet risen to the level where the census makes them a separate statistical category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stigler/the-number-of-saintly-men-has-not-yet-risen-to-the-level-where-the/) [George Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stigler/) ## More by Walter Gilbert > [Why do we do basic research? To learn about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/why-do-we-do-basic-research-to-learn-about-ourselves/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Three billion bases of DNA sequence can be put on a single compact disc and one will be able to pull a CD out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/three-billion-bases-of-dna-sequence-can-be-put-on-a-single-compact/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [We know specific genes are turned on in specific cells, but we don't know to what extent this happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/we-know-specific-genes-are-turned-on-in-specific-cells-but-we-don-t/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Early on, it's good to develop the ability to write. Learning to write is a useful exercise, even if what you're writing about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/early-on-it-s-good-to-develop-the-ability-to-write-learning-to-write/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Biology will relate every human gene to the genes of other animals and bacteria, to this great chain of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/biology-will-relate-every-human-gene-to-the-genes-of-other-animals/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [The community as a whole doesn't listen patiently to critics who adopt alternative viewpoints. Although the great lesson of history is that knowledge develops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-community-as-a-whole-doesn-t-listen-patiently-to-critics-who/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [By asking a novel question that you don't know the answer to, you discover whether you can formulate a way of finding the answer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/by-asking-a-novel-question-that-you-don-t-know-the-answer-to-you/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Today we try to identify a gene and then study its properties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/today-we-try-to-identify-a-gene-and-then-study-its-properties/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [The best project is one that asks a novel question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-best-project-is-one-that-asks-a-novel-question/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [I am afraid that those comments go back to the late 80's. At that time I was a skeptic - the argument based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/i-am-afraid-that-those-comments-go-back-to-the-late-80-s-at-that-time/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Biology will tell you a lot of things, but there are many that it can not explain and you need to look at physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/biology-will-tell-you-a-lot-of-things-but-there-are-many-that-it-can/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Error is far more common than fraud which probably comprises 1 percent or a tenth of a percent of the literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/error-is-far-more-common-than-fraud-which-probably-comprises-1/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [The interaction of the variation in our genes is what's responsible for lots of our attributes and vigor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-interaction-of-the-variation-in-our-genes-is-what-s-responsible/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Here is a human being; it's me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/here-is-a-human-being-it-s-me/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) > [Everyone wants a hand in the outcome, a piece of the knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/everyone-wants-a-hand-in-the-outcome-a-piece-of-the-knowledge/) [Walter Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) [Explore all 25 Walter Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) [Harry Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapman/) > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The virtues of science are skepticism and independence of thought.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Gilbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-and-independence-of-thought/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-and-independence-of-thought/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/walter-gilbert-24058_doubt_the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-an_910543.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/walter-gilbert-24058_doubt_the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-an_910543.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bd/walter-gilbert-24058_doubt_the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-an_910543.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The virtues of science are skepticism and independence of thought.” — Walter Gilbert", "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": "Walter Gilbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gilbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The virtues of science are skepticism...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-and-independence-of-thought/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gilbert/the-virtues-of-science-are-skepticism-and-independence-of-thought/#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 } } ] } ```