---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The existing scientific concepts cover…"
description: "\"The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very limited part of reality, and the other part that has not yet been understood is infinite.\" — ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/werner-heisenberg-4501_concepts_the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-a_492350.jpg"
---

#  The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very…

![“The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very limited part of reality, and the other part that has not yet been understood is infinite.” quote by Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/werner-heisenberg-4501_concepts_the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-a_492350.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/werner-heisenberg-4501_concepts_the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-a_492350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/werner-heisenberg-4501_concepts_the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-a_492350.jpg)

> “The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very limited part of reality, and the other part that has not yet been understood is infinite.”

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

## About This Quote

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

Scientific models capture only a slice of reality; the unknown beyond them is limitless.

**In simple terms:** Models are limited; reality is vast.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty, keep exploring.

Themes

science philosophy uncertainty exploration

Mood

curious thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- research
- education
- philosophical inquiry
- policy making

Key Concepts

quantum mechanics epistemology infinite unknown

Questions to Reflect On

- What aspects of reality might current science miss?
- How can we balance confidence in models with humility?

A Different Perspective

Models may mislead if taken as complete truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/)

## Related quotes

> [“The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very limited part of reality, and the other part that has not yet been understood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-always-only-a-very-limited-2/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [Under normal conditions the research scientist is not an innovator but a solver of puzzles, and the puzzles upon which he concentrates are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kuhn/under-normal-conditions-the-research-scientist-is-not-an-innovator/)

[Thomas Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kuhn/)

> [“Earth, stars, and the vastness of space; yesterday, today and tomorrow; and the endlessly increasing knowledge of the relation of forces, present an illimitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/earth-stars-and-the-vastness-of-space-yesterday-today-and-tomorrow/)

[John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/)

> [Don't ever let family, friends or co-workers enforce their limited reality &amp; lack of faith on you...Guard your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-ever-let-family-friends-or-co-workers-enforce-their-limited/)

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

> [Nature is made in such a way as to be able to be understood. Or perhaps I should put it-more correctly-the other way around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/nature-is-made-in-such-a-way-as-to-be-able-to-be-understood-or/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [Understanding God is not attained by calling into session all arguments for and against Him, in order to debate whether He is a reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/understanding-god-is-not-attained-by-calling-into-session-all/)

[Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/)

> [When a concept has been understood intellectually, if the learning is to be of value then a connection with personal feelings, inner knowing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shepherd/when-a-concept-has-been-understood-intellectually-if-the-learning-is/)

[Peter Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shepherd/)

> [ When I had this concept \["You're All That"\] that I'm not just a body with a mind, that I'm a spirit being, I'm a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/when-i-had-this-concept-you-re-all-that-that-i-m-not-just-a-body-with/)

[Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/)

> [The concept of loyalty is distorted when it is understood to mean blind acceptance. It is correctly interpreted when it is assumed to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/the-concept-of-loyalty-is-distorted-when-it-is-understood-to-mean/)

[Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/)

> [Mathematicians seem to have no difficulty in creating new concepts faster than the old ones become well understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton-lorenz/mathematicians-seem-to-have-no-difficulty-in-creating-new-concepts/)

Edward Norton Lorenz

> [“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/)

> [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

> [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/)

[Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/)

> [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/)

[Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/)

> [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

## More by Werner Heisenberg

> [“Revere those things beyond science which really matter and about which it is so difficult to speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/revere-those-things-beyond-science-which-really-matter-and-about/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [“In the history of science, ever since the famous trial of Galileo, it has repeatedly been claimed that scientific truth cannot be reconciled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/in-the-history-of-science-ever-since-the-famous-trial-of-galileo-it/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [The more closely you look at one thing, the less closely can you see something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-more-closely-you-look-at-one-thing-the-less-closely-can-you-see/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [I think that if a United States of Europe were to be formed, it would be in our interests to fight for it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/i-think-that-if-a-united-states-of-europe-were-to-be-formed-it-would/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [Whether we electrons, light quanta, benzol molecules, or stones, we shall always come up against these two characteristics, the corpuscular and the undular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/whether-we-electrons-light-quanta-benzol-molecules-or-stones-we-shall/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [It is probably true quite generally that in the history of human thinking the most fruitful developments frequently take place at those points where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/it-is-probably-true-quite-generally-that-in-the-history-of-human/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [If we made atomic bombs, we would bring about a terrible change in the world. Who knows what would happen from this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/if-we-made-atomic-bombs-we-would-bring-about-a-terrible-change-in-the/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [The positivists have a simple solution: the world must be divided into that which we can say clearly and the rest, which we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-positivists-have-a-simple-solution-the-world-must-be-divided-into/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [“what we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning’.77”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/what-we-observe-is-not-nature-itself-but-nature-exposed-to-our-method/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [A consistent pursuit of classical physics forces a transformation in the very heart of that physics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/a-consistent-pursuit-of-classical-physics-forces-a-transformation-in/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [ It was about three o'clock at night when the final result of the calculation \[which gave birth to quantum mechanics\] lay before me ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/it-was-about-three-o-clock-at-night-when-the-final-result-of-the/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [Only a few know, how much one must know to know how little one knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/only-a-few-know-how-much-one-must-know-to-know-how-little-one-knows/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [“We have to remember that what we observe is not nature in itself but nature exposed to our method of questioning. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/we-have-to-remember-that-what-we-observe-is-not-nature-in-itself-but/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [I think that modern physics has definitely decided in favor of Plato. In fact the smallest units of matter are not physical objects in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/i-think-that-modern-physics-has-definitely-decided-in-favor-of-plato/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

> [The end of the First World War had thrown Germany's youth into great turmoil. The reins of power had fallen from the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-end-of-the-first-world-war-had-thrown-germany-s-youth-into-great/)

[Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

[Explore all 109 Werner Heisenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/)

## More Concepts quotes

> [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/)

[Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/)

> [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/)

[Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/)

> [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-do-like-talking-with-friends-about-big-concepts-you-know-the-stuff/)

[James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/)

> [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [For a physicist mathematics is not just a tool by means of which phenomena can be calculated, it is the main source of concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/for-a-physicist-mathematics-is-not-just-a-tool-by-means-of-which/)

[Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/)

> [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [All significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/all-significant-concepts-of-the-modern-theory-of-the-state-are/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/)

Christy Nockels

> [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/)

[Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/)

> [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/)

[Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/)

> [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

Browse all 2,468 Concepts quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very limited part of reality, and the other part that has not yet been understood is infinite.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Werner Heisenberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-always-only-a-very-limited/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Concepts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-always-only-a-very-limited/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/werner-heisenberg-4501_concepts_the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-a_492350.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/werner-heisenberg-4501_concepts_the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-a_492350.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/werner-heisenberg-4501_concepts_the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-a_492350.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very limited part of reality, and the other part that…” — Werner Heisenberg",
                "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": "Werner Heisenberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The existing scientific concepts cover always...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-always-only-a-very-limited/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/the-existing-scientific-concepts-cover-always-only-a-very-limited/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
