The popularization of scientific doctrines is producing as great an alteration in the mental
state of society as the material applications of science are effecting in its outward life.
—James Clerk Maxwell, 1871
An alleged scientific discovery has not merit unless it can be explained to a barmaid.
—Ernest Rutherford
16
A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation.
—Saki, 1924
There is no real popularization possible, only vulgarization that in most instances distorts
the discoveries beyond recognition.
—Erwin Chargaff, 1973
Science, history and politics are not suited for discussion except by experts.
—Frank Ramsey, 1925
***
The truth is, there is nothing—there is nothing—of the same order as magnitude as the
invention of quantum mechanics or of the double helix or of relativity. Just nothing like that
has happened in the last few decades.
—Leo Kadanoff
17
The US must double the amount of research effort searching for new ideas every 13 years
to offset the increased difficulty of finding new ideas.
—Nicholas Bloom et al., 2020
It is clear that we cannot go up another two orders of magnitude as we have climbed the last
five. If we did, we should have two scientists for every man, woman, child, and dog in the
population, and we should spend on them twice as much money as we had. Scientific
doomsday is therefore less than a century distant.
—Derek J. de Solla Price, 1963
***
In picking that problem be sure to analyze it carefully to see that it is worth the effort. It
takes just as much effort to solve a useless problem as a useful one.
—Charles F. Kettering, 1955
– Most important ideas are not exciting.
– Most exciting ideas are not important.
—Dan Geer, 2007
There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.
—Bertrand Russell, 1935
16
As quoted, without a date, by G. J. Whitrow in 1973.
17
As quoted, without a date, by J. Horgan in 1996.
On Science and Technology
33
state of society as the material applications of science are effecting in its outward life.
—James Clerk Maxwell, 1871
An alleged scientific discovery has not merit unless it can be explained to a barmaid.
—Ernest Rutherford
16
A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation.
—Saki, 1924
There is no real popularization possible, only vulgarization that in most instances distorts
the discoveries beyond recognition.
—Erwin Chargaff, 1973
Science, history and politics are not suited for discussion except by experts.
—Frank Ramsey, 1925
***
The truth is, there is nothing—there is nothing—of the same order as magnitude as the
invention of quantum mechanics or of the double helix or of relativity. Just nothing like that
has happened in the last few decades.
—Leo Kadanoff
17
The US must double the amount of research effort searching for new ideas every 13 years
to offset the increased difficulty of finding new ideas.
—Nicholas Bloom et al., 2020
It is clear that we cannot go up another two orders of magnitude as we have climbed the last
five. If we did, we should have two scientists for every man, woman, child, and dog in the
population, and we should spend on them twice as much money as we had. Scientific
doomsday is therefore less than a century distant.
—Derek J. de Solla Price, 1963
***
In picking that problem be sure to analyze it carefully to see that it is worth the effort. It
takes just as much effort to solve a useless problem as a useful one.
—Charles F. Kettering, 1955
– Most important ideas are not exciting.
– Most exciting ideas are not important.
—Dan Geer, 2007
There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.
—Bertrand Russell, 1935
16
As quoted, without a date, by G. J. Whitrow in 1973.
17
As quoted, without a date, by J. Horgan in 1996.
On Science and Technology
33