The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things
well.
—Horace Walpole
24
***
Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.
—Richard Feynman, 1969
Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
—Richard J. Needham, 1979
25
Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done and why. Then do it.
—Robert A. Heinlein, 1973
If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it
can’t be done.
—Peter Ustinov, 2004
For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert.
—Anonymous
26
An expert is a person who avoids small error as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy.
—Benjamin Stolberg
27
An expert is someone licensed to do things he cannot do.
—Erwin Chargaff, 1980
An expert in any field is a person who knows enough about what’s really going on to be
scared.
—P. J. Plauger, 1983
The price one pays for pursuing any profession or calling is an intimate knowledge of its
ugly side.
—James Baldwin, 1961
***
You live and learn. At any rate, you live.
—Douglas Adams, 2000
24
As quoted in The Christian Leader in 1934.
25
Paraphrased later by many, including Elizabeth May (in 2014) and Ben Carson (in 2015).
26
Frequently attributed to Arthur C. Clarke, but he quotes this 4th Law as a known joke.
27
As quoted, without a date, in several generally reliable collections, starting not later than 1952.
66
On Education, Reading, and Knowledge
well.
—Horace Walpole
24
***
Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.
—Richard Feynman, 1969
Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
—Richard J. Needham, 1979
25
Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done and why. Then do it.
—Robert A. Heinlein, 1973
If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it
can’t be done.
—Peter Ustinov, 2004
For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert.
—Anonymous
26
An expert is a person who avoids small error as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy.
—Benjamin Stolberg
27
An expert is someone licensed to do things he cannot do.
—Erwin Chargaff, 1980
An expert in any field is a person who knows enough about what’s really going on to be
scared.
—P. J. Plauger, 1983
The price one pays for pursuing any profession or calling is an intimate knowledge of its
ugly side.
—James Baldwin, 1961
***
You live and learn. At any rate, you live.
—Douglas Adams, 2000
24
As quoted in The Christian Leader in 1934.
25
Paraphrased later by many, including Elizabeth May (in 2014) and Ben Carson (in 2015).
26
Frequently attributed to Arthur C. Clarke, but he quotes this 4th Law as a known joke.
27
As quoted, without a date, in several generally reliable collections, starting not later than 1952.
66
On Education, Reading, and Knowledge