--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hallmark of good science is the…" description: "\"The hallmark of good science is the testing of a plausible hypothesis that is then either supported or rejected by the evidence.\" — Willie Soon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/willie-soon-35613_evidence_the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-test_284864.png" --- # The hallmark of good science is the testing of a plausible… ![“The hallmark of good science is the testing of a plausible hypothesis that is then either supported or rejected by the evidence.” quote by Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/willie-soon-35613_evidence_the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-test_284864.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/willie-soon-35613_evidence_the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-test_284864.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/willie-soon-35613_evidence_the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-test_284864.png) > “The hallmark of good science is the testing of a plausible hypothesis that is then either supported or rejected by the evidence.” [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science progresses by testing hypotheses and letting evidence decide support or rejection. **In simple terms:** Science is about testing ideas with evidence. Key Takeaway Embrace evidence‑based conclusions. Themes science method skepticism Mood analytical critical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - research design - peer review - policy decisions Key Concepts hypothesis testing empirical validation Questions to Reflect On - How do you guard against bias? - What evidence would change your view? A Different Perspective Biases can distort interpretation of evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Good science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-science/) [Hallmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hallmark/) [Hypothesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis/) [Hypothesis Supported](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis-supported-2754778/) [Plausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible/) [Plausible Hypothesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausible-hypothesis-2754779/) [Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejected/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Testing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testing/) [Testing Plausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testing-plausible-2754780/) ## Related quotes > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Given the power and influence that science increasingly has in our daily lives, it is important that we as citizens of an open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/given-the-power-and-influence-that-science-increasingly-has-in-our/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [Good science requires distinguishing between "felt knowledge" and knowledge arising out of testable observations. "I am sure" is a mental sensation, not a testable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/good-science-requires-distinguishing-between-felt-knowledge-and/) [Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/) > [In really, really good science fiction, the line between the science and the fiction is blurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/in-really-really-good-science-fiction-the-line-between-the-science/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) > [I do agree that the science is not settled on this. The idea we would put Americans' economy in jeopardy based on scientific theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-do-agree-that-the-science-is-not-settled-on-this-the-idea-we-would/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Receiving the National Medal of Science is the thrill of a lifetime, but good science does not happen in isolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-faber/receiving-the-national-medal-of-science-is-the-thrill-of-a-lifetime/) [Sandra Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-faber/) > [I do agree that the science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put American's economy at jeopardy based on scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-do-agree-that-the-science-is-not-settled-on-this-the-idea-that-we/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [The novels that get praised in the NY Review of Books aren't worth reading. Ninety-seven percent of science fiction is adolescent rubbish, but good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-novels-that-get-praised-in-the-ny-review-of-books-aren-t-worth/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [Those who do good science do so because they choose problems that are suited to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/those-who-do-good-science-do-so-because-they-choose-problems-that-are/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) > [To do good science, you've got to work really, really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/to-do-good-science-you-ve-got-to-work-really-really-hard/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Good science is all about following the data as it shows up and letting yourself be proven wrong, and letting everything change while you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-skloot/good-science-is-all-about-following-the-data-as-it-shows-up-and/) [Rebecca Skloot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-skloot/) > [“It is not “scientism” to concede the objectivity and precision of good science, any more than it is history worship to concede that Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/it-is-not-scientism-to-concede-the-objectivity-and-precision-of-good/) [Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-c-dennett/) > [Every month, the US is spending more on the Iraqi war than it took to reach Saturn and Titan. Mass murder is expensive, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/every-month-the-us-is-spending-more-on-the-iraqi-war-than-it-took-to/) [Caitlín R. Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitl-n-r-kiernan/) > [Debunking bad science should be constant obligation of the science community, even if it takes time away from serious research or seems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/debunking-bad-science-should-be-constant-obligation-of-the-science/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Good science fiction is always based in contemporary truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/good-science-fiction-is-always-based-in-contemporary-truths/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## More by Willie Soon > [I am a scientist. I go where the facts take me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/i-am-a-scientist-i-go-where-the-facts-take-me/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [Science and its practice are no longer free and willing today but instead are constantly terrorized by research funding gravy trains and group thinking.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/science-and-its-practice-are-no-longer-free-and-willing-today-but/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [The warming we've experienced in the late 20th century could just as easily be explained by small decreases in cloud cover - natural changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-warming-we-ve-experienced-in-the-late-20th-century-could-just-as/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [Too much ice is really bad for polar bears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/too-much-ice-is-really-bad-for-polar-bears/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [...a magical CO2 knob for controlling weather and climate simply does not exist!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/a-magical-co2-knob-for-controlling-weather-and-climate-simply-does/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [There is no experimental data that exists that supports the view that the Earth's climate is changing in any dangerous way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/there-is-no-experimental-data-that-exists-that-supports-the-view-that/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [The close relationships between the abrupt ups and downs of solar activity and of temperature that I have identified occur locally in coastal Greenland;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-close-relationships-between-the-abrupt-ups-and-downs-of-solar/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [I don't like to claim that I am an expert on anything, but I have enough knowledge about climate science and climate system to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/i-don-t-like-to-claim-that-i-am-an-expert-on-anything-but-i-have/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [Changes in solar activity have influenced what has been called the "conveyor-belt" circulation of the great Atlantic Ocean currents over the past 240 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/changes-in-solar-activity-have-influenced-what-has-been-called-the/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [There is some CO2-water vapor feedback. But it's not operating on a global scale. The modellers cannot accurately separate water vapour from the effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/there-is-some-co2-water-vapor-feedback-but-it-s-not-operating-on-a/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [Changes in clouds and rainfall can overwhelm what little effect CO2-water vapour has on temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/changes-in-clouds-and-rainfall-can-overwhelm-what-little-effect-co2/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) > [The climate system is constantly readjusting naturally in a large way - more than we would ever see from CO2. The CO2 kick \[impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-climate-system-is-constantly-readjusting-naturally-in-a-large-way/) [Willie Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) [Explore all 13 Willie Soon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/) ## More Evidence quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“What you owe your critics are your RESULTS not explanations not defence just RESULTS.Evidence terminates Arguments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/what-you-owe-your-critics-are-your-results-not-explanations-not/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [“Dogmatism compensates for evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-wallace/dogmatism-compensates-for-evidence/) [Dana Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-wallace/) > [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Human unhappiness is evidence of our immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/human-unhappiness-is-evidence-of-our-immortality/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [The state is in danger of falling into disrepute due to the evidence of its inadequate resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-habermas/the-state-is-in-danger-of-falling-into-disrepute-due-to-the-evidence/) [Jurgen Habermas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-habermas/) > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world's present warming trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-is-still-zero-empirical-evidence-that-anthropogenic-production/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-you-regard-evidence-as-a-constraint-and-seek-to-free-yourself-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [ We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. \[This is\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theory-has-been-accepted-as-fact/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) [Browse all 3,643 Evidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The hallmark of good science is the testing of a plausible hypothesis that is then either supported or rejected by the evidence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Willie Soon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-testing-of-a-plausible-hypothesis/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-testing-of-a-plausible-hypothesis/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/willie-soon-35613_evidence_the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-test_284864.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/willie-soon-35613_evidence_the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-test_284864.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7e/willie-soon-35613_evidence_the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-test_284864.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The hallmark of good science is the testing of a plausible hypothesis that is then either supported or…” — Willie Soon", "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": "Willie Soon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-soon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The hallmark of good science is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-testing-of-a-plausible-hypothesis/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-soon/the-hallmark-of-good-science-is-the-testing-of-a-plausible-hypothesis/#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 } } ] } ```