Research is the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind.
—Marston Bates, 1950
For men with insatiable curiosity, their prototype is […] the dog sniffing tremendously at an
infinite series of rat-holes.
—H. L. Mencken, 1923
It is a good morning exercise for a research scientist to discard a pet hypothesis every day
before breakfast. It keeps him young.
—Konrad Lorenz, 1966
There is no failure except in no longer trying.
—Elbert Hubbard, 1895
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.
—Beverly Sills, 1997
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
—Confucius, fifth century BC
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
—Japanese proverb
11
If you want to succeed, double your failure rate.
—Thomas J. Watson
12
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy, 1966
Success teaches us nothing; only failure teaches.
—Hyman G. Rickover, 1954
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
—Anonymous
13
***
He who risks nothing, can gain nothing.
—Italian proverb
He who does not risk, does not drink champagne.
—Russian proverb
To win without risk is to triumph without glory.
—Pierre Corneille, 1636
11
Here and below, proverbs are labeled by the languages in which they are common, rather than
their countries of origin.
12
As quoted, without a date, by Roger von Oech in 1982.
13
I have seen this joke attributed to many authors, including Will Rogers, Rita Mae Brown, Randy
Pausch, and even Mullah Nasreddin Hooja, but could not establish the actual original authorship.
On Discoveries, Problems, and Solutions
7
—Marston Bates, 1950
For men with insatiable curiosity, their prototype is […] the dog sniffing tremendously at an
infinite series of rat-holes.
—H. L. Mencken, 1923
It is a good morning exercise for a research scientist to discard a pet hypothesis every day
before breakfast. It keeps him young.
—Konrad Lorenz, 1966
There is no failure except in no longer trying.
—Elbert Hubbard, 1895
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.
—Beverly Sills, 1997
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
—Confucius, fifth century BC
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
—Japanese proverb
11
If you want to succeed, double your failure rate.
—Thomas J. Watson
12
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
—Robert F. Kennedy, 1966
Success teaches us nothing; only failure teaches.
—Hyman G. Rickover, 1954
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
—Anonymous
13
***
He who risks nothing, can gain nothing.
—Italian proverb
He who does not risk, does not drink champagne.
—Russian proverb
To win without risk is to triumph without glory.
—Pierre Corneille, 1636
11
Here and below, proverbs are labeled by the languages in which they are common, rather than
their countries of origin.
12
As quoted, without a date, by Roger von Oech in 1982.
13
I have seen this joke attributed to many authors, including Will Rogers, Rita Mae Brown, Randy
Pausch, and even Mullah Nasreddin Hooja, but could not establish the actual original authorship.
On Discoveries, Problems, and Solutions
7