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.
“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:
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Robert E. Machol 24
American systems engineer 1917–1998Related quotes
At an event sponsored by the Center for American Progress, October 18, 2006[citation needed]
2000s
“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.
“The right measure is not how many customers you've got, but how closely you hold them.”
Lift Me UP! Service With A Smile (2005)
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.
"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.
“A scientist ought to have a healthy disregard for coincidences.”
Source: Conjure Wife (1953), Chapter 3 (p. 39).