“Scientists possess healthy skepticism. They realize that you've got to know the answer before you measure it.”

Source: Mathematicians are useful (1971), p. 1:

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Scientists possess healthy skepticism. They realize that you've got to know the answer before you measure it." by Robert E. Machol?
Robert E. Machol photo
Robert E. Machol 24
American systems engineer 1917–1998

Related quotes

Dorothy Hodgkin photo

“There's the moment when you know you can find out the answer and that's the period you are sleepless before you know what it is. When you've got it and know what it is, then you can rest easy.”

Dorothy Hodgkin (1910–1994) British chemist

interviewed by
Context: I once wrote a lecture for Manchester University called « Moments of Discovery » in which I said that there are two moments that are important. There's the moment when you know you can find out the answer and that's the period you are sleepless before you know what it is. When you've got it and know what it is, then you can rest easy.

Bill Clinton photo

“The problem with ideology is, if you've got an ideology, you've already got your mind made up. You know all the answers and that makes evidence irrelevant and arguments a waste of time. You tend to govern by assertion and attacks.”

Bill Clinton (1946) 42nd President of the United States

At an event sponsored by the Center for American Progress, October 18, 2006[citation needed]
2000s

Richelle Mead photo

“You've got to find the answer inside you — feel the right thing to do.”

Flowers for Algernon (1966)
Context: The answer can't be found in books — or be solved by bringing it to other people. Not unless you want to remain a child all your life. You've got to find the answer inside you — feel the right thing to do.

Ron Kaufman photo

“The right measure is not how many customers you've got, but how closely you hold them.”

Ron Kaufman (1956) American author and consultant

Lift Me UP! Service With A Smile (2005)

Guy P. Harrison photo

“One of my complaints is that you've got far more scientists than ever before but the pace of discovery has not increased. Why? Because they're all busy just filling in the details of what they think is the standard story.”

Nigel Calder (1931–2014) British science writer

Interview for InConversation http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2007/1998485.htm (16 August 2007), by Robyn Williams, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Context: One of my complaints is that you've got far more scientists than ever before but the pace of discovery has not increased. Why? Because they're all busy just filling in the details of what they think is the standard story. And the youngsters, the people with different ideas have just as big a fight as ever and normally it takes decades for science to correct itself. But science does correct itself and that's the reason why science is such a glorious thing for our species.

John Lennon photo

“Yes is the answer and you know that for sure.
Yes is surrender, you got to let it, you got to let it go…”

John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter

"Mind Games"
Lyrics, Mind Games (1973)

John Lennon photo

“Love is the answer and you know that for sure.
Love is a flower, you got to let it — you got to let it grow.”

John Lennon (1940–1980) English singer and songwriter

"Mind Games"
Lyrics, Mind Games (1973)
Original: We all been playing those mind games forever
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil.
Doing the mind guerrilla,
Some call it magic — the search for the grail.
Love is the answer and you know that for sure.
Love is a flower, you got to let it — you got to let it grow.

Fritz Leiber photo

“A scientist ought to have a healthy disregard for coincidences.”

Source: Conjure Wife (1953), Chapter 3 (p. 39).

Related topics