Bill Watterson quote: “Scientific Progress goes boink?”

“Scientists are typically good at making scientific progress, but not particularly good at articulating what the progress consists of.”

Alan Chalmers book What Is This Thing Called Science?

Source: What Is This Thing Called Science? (Third Edition; 1999), Chapter 16, Epilogue, p. 252.

“Our progressive nationalism goes hand-in-hand with a commitment to internationalism.”

Alex Salmond (1954) Scottish National Party politician and former First Minister of Scotland

'Nationalist and Internationalist', Fortnight, No. 291 (Jan., 1991), pp. 16-17.
Context: Membership of a supranational economic trading organisation like the EC is the antithesis of 'separation', the meaningless insult directed at the SNP by unionist parties. Membership involves obligations which cede national sovereignty for mutual benefit. Co-operation with our European partners in the functional areas--economic, trading, technical and social policies--offers an independent Scotland the chance to play a reforming part in creating a Europe of equal nations. The EC is by no means perfect and the idea of a centralised European super-state is anathema. Our view of Europe is confederal--each state proud of its national identity but willing to work and co-operate in a powerful partnership... Every member of the SNP signs a commitment to internationalism when they receive their membership card. Our progressive nationalism goes hand-in-hand with a commitment to internationalism.

“Secrecy is a compulsive reflex in this country. It strangles thought, delays scientific progress, and destroys integrity.”

Jack McDevitt book The Hercules Text

Source: The Hercules Text (1986), Chapter 7 (p. 105)

“The history of scientific ideas shows all too blatantly that there has been no overall linear progression.”

Ernst von Glasersfeld (1917–2010) German philosopher

Source: Glasersfeld (2001, p.32) as cited in: Alexander Riegler, "Constructivism." in: Paradigms in theory construction. Springer, New York, NY, 2012. 235-255.

“The history of mathematics is important also as a valuable contribution to the history of civilization. Human progress is closely identified with scientific thought. Mathematical and physical researches are a reliable record of intellectual progress.”

Florian Cajori book A History of Mathematics

Source: A History of Mathematics (1893), p. 4; Cited in: Moritz (1914, 90); Study and research in mathematics

“Progress in religion means that, as time goes on, religion more and more takes the side of the victims against the oppressors.”

Freeman Dyson (1923) theoretical physicist and mathematician

Progress In Religion (2000)
Context: One of the great but less famous heroes of World War Two was Andre Trocme, the Protestant pastor of the village of Le Chambon sur Lignon in France, which sheltered and saved the lives of five thousand Jews under the noses of the Gestapo. Forty years later Pierre Sauvage, one of the Jews who was saved, recorded the story of the village in a magnificent documentary film with the title, "Weapons of the Spirit". The villagers proved that civil disobedience and passive resistance could be effective weapons, even against Hitler. Their religion gave them the courage and the discipline to stand firm. Progress in religion means that, as time goes on, religion more and more takes the side of the victims against the oppressors.