--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those insights in science that have led…" description: "\"“Those insights in science that have led to a breakthrough were not logically derived from preexisting knowledge: The creative processes on which the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/william-lanouette-31523_breakthrough_those-insights-in-science-that-have-led_2335112.jpg" --- # Those insights in science that have led to a breakthrough… ![“Those insights in science that have led to a breakthrough were not logically derived from preexisting knowledge: The creative processes on which the progress of science is based operate on the level of the subconscious.” quote by William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/william-lanouette-31523_breakthrough_those-insights-in-science-that-have-led_2335112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/william-lanouette-31523_breakthrough_those-insights-in-science-that-have-led_2335112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/william-lanouette-31523_breakthrough_those-insights-in-science-that-have-led_2335112.jpg) > ““Those insights in science that have led to a breakthrough were not logically derived from preexisting knowledge: The creative processes on which the progress of science is based operate on the level of the subconscious.”” [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Breakthrough scientific ideas often arise from subconscious processing rather than direct logical reasoning, showing the hidden role of intuition. **In simple terms:** Science breakthroughs come from subconscious intuition. Key Takeaway Trust and nurture intuition in research. Themes science creativity intuition subconscious Mood inquisitive inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - research labs - artistic creation - problem solving - education Key Concepts cognitive psychology innovation theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we better capture subconscious ideas? - What methods help translate intuition into theory? A Different Perspective Subconscious insights can be hard to articulate or validate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breakthrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) [Breakthrough Logically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough-logically-5631760/) [Creative process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-process/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Insights Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insights-science-5631759/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Progress Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-science-239684/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Subconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subconscious/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The creative process taps into our deepest subconscious, and we are each of us sex-crazed - products of a shame-based Judeo-Christian culture that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-coady/the-creative-process-taps-into-our-deepest-subconscious-and-we-are/) [Lynn Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-coady/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [We are not to expect perfection in this world; but mankind, in modern times, have apparently made some progress in the science of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/we-are-not-to-expect-perfection-in-this-world-but-mankind-in-modern/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [What I do is very theoretical. It won't necessarily have implications for anything anyone is doing tomorrow, yet you know that there's a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/what-i-do-is-very-theoretical-it-won-t-necessarily-have-implications/) [Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/) > [So far from being an isolated phenomenon the late war is only an example of the disruptive result that we may constantly expect from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/so-far-from-being-an-isolated-phenomenon-the-late-war-is-only-an/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) > [Those who are really convinced that they have made progress in science would not demand freedom for the new views to continue side by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/those-who-are-really-convinced-that-they-have-made-progress-in/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Mass application of technological innovations, which constitutes much of the distinctive substance of modern economic growth, is closely connected with the further progress of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuznets/mass-application-of-technological-innovations-which-constitutes-much/) [Simon Kuznets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuznets/) > [“Do not forget that when the heart petrifies there is no progress. All science must be like a fruit, so ordered that it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/do-not-forget-that-when-the-heart-petrifies-there-is-no-progress-all/) [Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/) > [How do you know that the incessant progress of science will not compel scientists to consider that life has existed during eternity, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/how-do-you-know-that-the-incessant-progress-of-science-will-not/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [The progress of science is much more muddled than is depicted in most history books. This is especially true of theoretical physics, partly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gross/the-progress-of-science-is-much-more-muddled-than-is-depicted-in-most/) [David Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gross/) > [It surely can be no offence to state, that the progress of science has led to new views, and that the consequences that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-surely-can-be-no-offence-to-state-that-the-progress-of-science-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...the progress of science depends much less upon either theoretical considerations or systematic investigation than is commonly believed, but rather on the transmittal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/the-progress-of-science-depends-much-less-upon-either-theoretical/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [I like greenery, nature, I don't like littering the streets. The progress of science and technology comes at a cost and I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-like-greenery-nature-i-don-t-like-littering-the-streets-the/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [But weightier still are the contentment which comes from work well done, the sense of the value of science for its own sake, insatiable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-joseph-henderson/but-weightier-still-are-the-contentment-which-comes-from-work-well/) [Lawrence Joseph Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-joseph-henderson/) > [We live in this world in order always to learn industriously and to enlighten each other by means of discussion and to strive vigorously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/we-live-in-this-world-in-order-always-to-learn-industriously-and-to/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) ## More by William Lanouette > [“Leo said that his function was to head up the Happiness Committee,” Lerner recalled. “He said a university ran on the happiness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/leo-said-that-his-function-was-to-head-up-the-happiness-committee/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“an expert is a man who knows what cannot be done.” Szilard found that last paragraph “rather irritating because how can anyone know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/an-expert-is-a-man-who-knows-what-cannot-be-done-szilard-found-that/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“he mentioned that The Tragedy of Man by Madách had “influenced my whole life.” The moral he recalled from it was that no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/he-mentioned-that-the-tragedy-of-man-by-mad-ch-had-influenced-my/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“Allison gave the reporters something more stirring to write about. “Scientist Drops A-Bomb: Blasts Army Shackles,” the Chicago Tribune reported about his remarks. “We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/allison-gave-the-reporters-something-more-stirring-to-write-about/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“Recognize the connections of things and the laws of conduct of men so that you may know what you are doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/recognize-the-connections-of-things-and-the-laws-of-conduct-of-men-so/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“What we call disorder or chaos might actually be order, if order is seen as a random distribution and not as a static, idealized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/what-we-call-disorder-or-chaos-might-actually-be-order-if-order-is/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“It is hard to be right and be a pessimist,” Szilard concluded.24”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/it-is-hard-to-be-right-and-be-a-pessimist-szilard-concluded-24/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“Your knowledge and wisdom determine who you are. In our society, there is a market for skills and knowledge. But I have some doubts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/your-knowledge-and-wisdom-determine-who-you-are-in-our-society-there/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“Adamson scoffed. It generally takes two wars to develop a new weapon, he said; besides, it was “morale,” not research, that led to victory.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/adamson-scoffed-it-generally-takes-two-wars-to-develop-a-new-weapon/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“Let your acts be directed toward a worthy goal but do not ask if they will reach it; they are to be models and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/let-your-acts-be-directed-toward-a-worthy-goal-but-do-not-ask-if-they/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“Honor children. Listen reverently to their words and speak to them with infinite love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/honor-children-listen-reverently-to-their-words-and-speak-to-them/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“imagination is the tool which has to be used if the impossible is to be accomplished.”74”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/imagination-is-the-tool-which-has-to-be-used-if-the-impossible-is-to/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“I believe that many children are born with an inquisitive mind, the mind of a scientist, and I assume that I became a scientist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/i-believe-that-many-children-are-born-with-an-inquisitive-mind-the/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“. . . the most important thing to remember about science is the fact that it is supposed to be fun. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/the-most-important-thing-to-remember-about-science-is-the-fact-that/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“Leo’s real problem,” Trude once told Puck, “is that he doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/leo-s-real-problem-trude-once-told-puck-is-that-he-doesn-t-know-what/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) [Explore all 16 William Lanouette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) ## More Breakthrough quotes > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [The hardware and the software used in the Breakthrough project will be compatible with other telescopes around the world, so they too can search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-milner/the-hardware-and-the-software-used-in-the-breakthrough-project-will/) [Yuri Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuri-milner/) > [Just like the breakthroughs, the bad stuff always takes you by surprise. (121)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-giles/just-like-the-breakthroughs-the-bad-stuff-always-takes-you-by/) [Gail Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-giles/) > [There are just moments when all the stars are aligned for breakthrough products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sculley/there-are-just-moments-when-all-the-stars-are-aligned-for/) [John Sculley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sculley/) > [The founder of any branch must be more ingenious than the common man. However, if his achievement is not carried on by disciples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-founder-of-any-branch-must-be-more-ingenious-than-the-common-man/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Brokenness is often the road to breakthrough. Hang in there. Your time is coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/brokenness-is-often-the-road-to-breakthrough-hang-in-there-your-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Historic changes and challenges. Breakthroughs in human knowledge and opportunity. And yet, for vast numbers across the globe, the daily realities have not altered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historic-changes-and-challenges-breakthroughs-in-human-knowledge-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obama is hardly the first president to seek rapprochement with our adversaries and reconciliation with our enemies, of course. But his determination to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/obama-is-hardly-the-first-president-to-seek-rapprochement-with-our/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [... when things get rough, a breakthrough is just on the other side of the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/when-things-get-rough-a-breakthrough-is-just-on-the-other-side-of-the/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Tonight, after a breakthrough year for America, our economy is growing and creating jobs at the fastest pace since 1999.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/tonight-after-a-breakthrough-year-for-america-our-economy-is-growing/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Opposition is just proof that you're close to a major breakthrough keepgoing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run-2/opposition-is-just-proof-that-you-re-close-to-a-major-breakthrough/) [Rev Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run-2/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“A reset isn't going backwards; it's clearing the path to move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rivera/a-reset-isn-t-going-backwards-it-s-clearing-the-path-to-move-forward/) [Alex Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rivera/) > [The consensus we arrived with States for amending the Constitution to implement GST is a major breakthrough. This alone has the potential to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-consensus-we-arrived-with-states-for-amending-the-constitution-to/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Conceivably, blockchains could rely on a number of standards above the Internet's existing standards to allow a smooth bridging from one layer to another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mougayar/conceivably-blockchains-could-rely-on-a-number-of-standards-above-the/) [William Mougayar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mougayar/) [Browse all 507 Breakthrough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Those insights in science that have led to a breakthrough were not logically derived from preexisting knowledge: The creative processes on which the progress of science is based operate on the level of the subconscious.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Lanouette" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/those-insights-in-science-that-have-led-to-a-breakthrough-were-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breakthrough" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/those-insights-in-science-that-have-led-to-a-breakthrough-were-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/william-lanouette-31523_breakthrough_those-insights-in-science-that-have-led_2335112.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/william-lanouette-31523_breakthrough_those-insights-in-science-that-have-led_2335112.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/william-lanouette-31523_breakthrough_those-insights-in-science-that-have-led_2335112.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those insights in science that have led to a breakthrough were not logically derived from preexisting…” — William Lanouette", "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": "William Lanouette", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Those insights in science that have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/those-insights-in-science-that-have-led-to-a-breakthrough-were-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/those-insights-in-science-that-have-led-to-a-breakthrough-were-not/#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 } } ] } ```