Famous quotes
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“I was interested in truth from the point of view of salvation just as much as in truth from the point of view of scientific certainty. It appeared to me that there were two paths to truth, and I decided to follow both of them.”
Georges Lemaître (1894–1966) first seen 1933 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: AIKMAN, Duncan, New York Times Magazine, February 19, 1933, p. 3
“Every system of law is a system of education, and, in extending legal sanction to the scientific torture of animals, the State educates the nation in a false view of the relations of man to the lower creatures, encourages selfishness and cruelty and the disregard of the rights of the weak by the strong.”
Frances Power Cobbe (1822–1904) said by 1904 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The most recent scientific evidence is both overwhelming and shocking—what we feed (or don't feed) our children as they grow from birth to early adulthood has a greater total contributory effect on the dietary contribution to cancers than dietary intake over the next fifty years.”
Joel Fuhrman (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is a favourite maxim of mine that history, while it should be scientific in its method, should pursue a practical object. That is, it should not merely gratify the reader's curiosity about the past, but modify his view of the present and his forecast of the future,”
John Robert Seeley (1834–1895) said by 1895 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Those who do not have access to scientific methods and laboratory verification have often relied on metis to develop rich knowledge systems that are remarkably accurate. Traditional navigation skills before the eras of sextants, magnetic compasses, charts, and sonar are a case in point.”
James C. Scott (1936–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Metis, with the premium it places on practical knowledge, experience, and stochastic reasoning, is of course not merely the now-superseded precursor of scientific knowledge. It is the mode of reasoning most appropriate to complex material and social tasks where the uncertainties are so daunting that we must trust our (experienced) intuition and feel our way.”
James C. Scott (1936–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There are very few, if any, actual scientific studies that have been performed on vaccine safety. Not for any vaccine, not for any age group of recipients.”
Vox Day (born 1968) first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Theodore Beale, There Are No Studies, Vox Day, 11 July 2024
“Structural design is... very much concerned with art, common sense, sentiment, aptitude, and enjoyment of the task of creating opportune outlines to which scientific calculations will add finishing touches, substantiating that the structure is sound and strong...”
Eduardo Torroja (1899–1961) said by 1961 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I feel that the recent ruling of the United States Army and Navy regarding the refusal of colored blood donors is an indefensible one from any point of view. As you know, there is no scientific basis for the separation of the bloods of different races except on the basis of the individual blood types or groups.(1942)”
Charles R. Drew (1904–1950) first seen 1942 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (1942) Spencie Love, One Blood: The Death and Resurrection of Charles R. Drew (1996) ISBN 0-8078-2250-7, 155-56, quoting as it appeared in Current Biography(1944),180.
“A scientific theory is a concise and coherent set of concepts, claims, and laws (frequently expressed mathematically) that can be used to precisely and accurately explain and predict natural phenomena. A theory should include a mechanism that explains how its concepts, claims, and laws arise from lower-level theories.”
Mordechai Ben-Ari (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Until creationists accept that their claims must be falsifiable and show how they could be falsified, creationism cannot be said to be a scientific theory.”
Mordechai Ben-Ari (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Why was progress in computing technology so fast compared with the lack of progress in space travel? The reason is very simple: computing technology is only now approaching scientific limits such as quantum uncertainty and the speed of light, while space technology has already run into its limits that derive from the basic principles of physics and chemistry.”
Mordechai Ben-Ari (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Why, beyond reasons of scientific curiosity, do we want to know about the past? And whose past is it anyway? …the past is big business…the past is politically highly charged, ideologically powerful and significant.”
Colin Renfrew (1937–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Marxist really believes that Marxism is ‘scientific.’ The National Socialist really believes that the Racial Principle has something to do with serious biology.”
Frederick Augustus Voigt (1892–1957) said by 1957 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So I read about various aspects of vegetarianism—the scientific aspect, the humane aspect, the ethical aspect, and the economic aspect. The more I studied, the more convinced I became that it was a logical procedure, that it would help humanity, that it would lessen the suffering of the animals, and that it would help this country.”
Gordon Latto (doctor) first seen 1979 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Interview in The Vegetarians by Rynn Berry (Autumn Press, 1979), p. 123.
“If you want to be a good doctor for patients, you need to devote some time to it, and if you want to have achievements in scientific research, you need to spend a lot of time in the laboratory. It is difficult to reconcile.”
Marek Sanak (born 1958) first seen 2012 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Kobos, Andrzej (2012). Po drogach uczonych. 5. Polska Akademia Umiejętności. pp. 317–335. ISBN 978-83-7676-127-5.
“Scientific reflections ... tear the mask of humanity from the "better class" and disclose the hideous countenance of the beast of prey.”
Johann Most (1846–1906) said by 1906 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In a Transmission group, you simply let yourself be an instrument, while the energy is put through your chakras by the Masters. You act as a positive, poised, mental channel through which the energy is sent in a highly scientific manner. It is directed by Them, by Their thought, to where it is most useful and most needed.”
Benjamin Creme (1922–2016) said by 2016 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Whatever may be the discoveries of the scientific mind, none can dispute the eternal truths propounded by the Upanishads. Though they may appear as riddles, the key to solving them lies in our heart and if one were to approach them with an open mind one could secure the treasure as did the Rishis of ancient times.”
Paul Deussen (1845–1919) first seen 1902 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Indian Antiquary (1902) - By Paul Deussen and reprinted in Outline of Indian Philosophy - 1907.
“I like to call this the CO2 anti-defamation league, because, there is the CO2 molecule, and it has undergone decade after decade of abuse, for no reason. We’re doing our best to try and counter this myth that CO2 is a dangerous pollutant. It’s not a pollutant at all. . . . We should be telling the scientific truth, that more CO2 is actually a benefit to the earth.”
William Happer (born 1939) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 2016, at the Crossroads III: Energy and Climate Policy Summit hosted by the Heritage Foundation (; )
“In recent years, historians have become increasingly aware of two things. The first is the power of material evidence — including scientific evidence — beyond the written sources we’ve traditionally worked with since the 18th and 19th centuries. The second is that … exogenous factors, such as environment, also play a role in the development of human societies.” (2014)”
Michael McCormick (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In The Reflexive Universe Arthur Young, inventor of the Bell helicopter, offered in speculative scientific terms an idea as old as myth and Plato: We represent a "fall" into matter from light, and the lightward ascent has begun again. p. 385”
Marilyn Ferguson (1938–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What could be more cynical than still seeking to exploit fossil fuel reserves when the scientific evidence is abundantly clear that we need to end all combustion of fossil fuels by 2050?”
Mary Robinson (born 1944) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Pope warns oil bosses of climate threat, BBC News, Roger Harrabin (14 June 2019)
“So, right now, as long as you wash your hands more often, that is the number one thing you can do to keep you and the country safe. [...] The scientific advice is that the impact of shaking hands is negligible and what really matters is that you wash your hands more often.”
Matt Hancock (born 1978) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking in , as quoted in British army on standby over coronavirus spread, 3 March 2020, .
“Henry Gee is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and senior editor at Nature, and he concluded on November 30, 2021 in a paper in Scientific American... in the final line, "If we are going to write about human extinction, we'd better start writing now" and the title... is "Humans Are Doomed to Go Extinct." That's very inconvenient!”
Guy McPherson (born 1960) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ref: Henry Gee, Humans Are Doomed to Go Extinct (Nov 30, 2021) Scientific American
“I don't eat meat because I love animals and respect them. But there are also scientific reasons: I cannot think of eating meat from animals from intensive farms, where they are no longer animals but meat machines. They are stuffed with antibiotics and live unnaturally. So theirs are sick meats.”
Margherita Hack (1922–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fear of pollution and an anti-scientific mentality push our mass media to often laughable ads. (p. 107)”
Margherita Hack (1922–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And introvert is one of the harmless scientific terms he used to use when he was really writing about witches.”
Jack Williamson (1908–2006) said by 2006 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I will argue that native societies' knowledge surpasses the scientific and social knowledge of the dominant society in its ability to provide information and a management style for environmental planning. Frankly, these native societies have existed as the only example of sustainable living in North America for more than 300 years.”
Winona LaDuke (born 1959) first seen 1994 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Futures" (1994)
“We are entering a decade during which we must find solutions for combating climate change, This calls for decisions that reduce emissions and strengthen carbon sinks. We will rely on scientific data, while taking account of the social and regional impacts of the solutions proposed.”
Sanna Marin (born 1985) first seen 2019 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Prime Minister Sanna Marin emphasises "most vulnerable citizens" in New Year message Yle News (December 31, 2019).
“It is a question of relativity. In order to understand it more clearly we must cleanse our minds of old ideas instilled into us by false education, both religious and scientific, and philosophic too (Ch 2)”
Gottfried de Purucker (1874–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The combination of these two — the inner urge, the drive, and a fit and appropriate environment or field— means the evolving, the coming out into manifestation, the expression, of those inner forces or powers.As is evident, this includes a far wider and vaster conception of evolution than any that has hitherto been entertained in the ranks of scientific researchers.(Chapter 10)”
Gottfried de Purucker (1874–1942) said by 1942 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“What we can do at this moment (COVID-19 outbreak) is gain a scientific understanding of the disease and protect ourselves. Wear a mask when you go out.”
Wang Ying first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Wang Ying (2020) cited in "Chinese Medicine Experts Offer Opinions on Protection against Coronavirus" on Macau Daily Times, 7 February 2020.
“[W]e also took on, a decade ago, the interesting problem of making Coronavirus vaccines because we recognized these as enormous public health threats, and yet we have not seen the big pharma guys and the biotech's rushing into this space. So we... partnered with a group at the and the to take on the big scientific challenge of Coronavirus vaccines...”
Peter Hotez (born 1958) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“One scientific discovery is a gift from the accumulated work of hundreds of researchers. Collaboration is crucial because viruses are smarter than researchers.”
Michael Lai (born 1942) first seen 2017 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Michael Lai (2017) cited in "Persistence pays for Taiwan virologist who helped stop SARS" on Nikkei Asian Review, 1 May 2017.
“Scientists are trained to not give absolute answers. It is interesting that in recent years, some have started to do so when talking with the media, because they've learned that whenever they include the very scientific words possibly, perhaps, and uncertainty, their conclusions are interpreted by the media and public as simple guesswork.”
Greg Craven wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The thrill of the scientific hunt is to have an idea whose truth is hitched to predictions that take us to new places to explore, objects to discover, and data to analyze.”
Neil Shubin (born 1960) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Indian culture in all probability excelled in systematic thought about Nature (as for example in the Sarokhya atomic theories of Kshana, bhutadim paramanu, etc.), including also biological speculations ... When the balance comes to be made up, it will be found I believe, that Indian scientific history holds as many brilliant surprises ...”
Joseph Needham (1900–1995) first seen 1500 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Alvares, Claude Alphonso Homo faber: technology and culture III IndIG, China, and the Westfi'om 1500 to the present day p. 69 - 70 As Quoted and attributed in Londhe, S. (2008). A tribute to Hinduism: Thoughts and wisdo…
“I’m not anti-vaccine. I just think we need to use them safely. And besides, we’ve got great political support. Senator Harry Reid (then majority leader of the United States Senate) is a good family friend of my bosses, we’ve got support in the Obama administration, and the scientific community is behind us.”
Judy Mikovits (born 1958) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in Plague of Corruption Book: The Talented Dr. Judy Mikovits, Kent Heckenlively, Children's Health Defense, (16 April 2020)
“The duality of existence is completely contradictory to all available scientific training and human experience. Again, the ultimate proof of such affirmation is to experience one's self in this state of being.”
Robert Monroe (1915–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That is what the information now returning from the scientific method indicates: mankind is on this planet to consciously evolve. And as we learn to evolve and pursue our particular path, truth by truth, the Ninth Insight says the overall culture will transform in a very predictable way. p.143”
James Redfield (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Yes, I fought against the idea of evolution as a replacement for God, as a way to explain the universe without reference to God. But now I see that the truth is a synthesis of the scientific and religious world views. The truth is that evolution is the way God created, and is still creating. p. 151”
James Redfield (born 1950) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“[T]his is perhaps the greatest Christian paradox of all — that the world’s most paradoxical religion has cultivated rationalism and scientific rigor more diligently than any of its rivals, making the Christian world safe for philosophy as well as fervor, for the study of nature as well as the contemplation of divinity.”
Ross Douthat (born 1979) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Functionalist psychology is... compatible with... scientific positivism, because it makes emperically falsifiable predictions... The... model is capable of producing [or predicting] specific behavior [and] [t]he model is the sparsest, simplest one...”
Joscha Bach (born 1973) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“True scientific demonstration involves convincing an observer who is outside the process, particularly one not deeply and emotionally enmeshed in it.”
Robyn Dawes (1936–2010) said by 2010 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Scientific knowledge helps people to understand and appreciate the world and all of its complexities; it’s the best insurance against irrational fear.”
May Berenbaum (born 1953) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The value of the little guy, an interview with Tyler Prize-winning entomologist May Berenbaum (April 6, 2011)
“When reporting information to their superiors, officials often conceal the truth and only report what they would like to hear. The information conveyed upwards is false, and there is no more scientific, democratic, open and transparent decision making. Under such circumstances, major problems will definitely arise in policy making.”
“In world history, those who have helped to build the same culture are not necessarily of one race, and those of the same race have not all participated in one culture. In scientific language, culture is not a function of race.”
Ruth Benedict (1887–1948) first seen 1940 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Race: Science and Politics [1940], ch. 2
“My conclusion can be summarized in a sentence. It is educationally irresponsible to pretend that an idea that is scientifically worthless deserves scientific discussion.”
Philip Kitcher (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A theory in its scientific context is not a static museum piece, but is always being extended and modified to account for new phenomena.”
Mary Hesse (1924–2016) first seen 1920 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Mary Hesse, Models and Analogies in Science, 1966. p. 4 ; Mary Hesse is quoting here Norman Robert Campbells Physics from 1920.