Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
While all of my book reviews on this blog are about the speculative fiction genre, I read many other genres as well.
Nonfiction is a particular favourite of mine. It’s exciting to learn about everything from prehistory to astronomy to the latest medical breakthroughs in books.
Here are ten bookish quotes about science.
“We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.”
―
“The problem, often not discovered until late in life, is that when you look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. The most successful people in life recognize, that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation. For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.”
―
The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he’s one who asks the right questions.”
―
“Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think.”
― Across the Frontiers
“Questions you cannot answer are usually far better for you than answers you cannot question.”
― 21 Lessons for the 21st Century
“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”
― Computing machinery and intelligence
“I penetrated the outer cell membrane with a nanosyringe.”
“You poked it with a stick?”
“No!” I said. “Well. Yes. But it was a scientific poke with a very scientific stick.”
― Project Hail Mary
“In what terms should we think of these beings, nonhuman yet possessing so very many human-like characteristics? How should we treat them? Surely we should treat them with the same consideration and kindness as we show to other humans; and as we recognize human rights, so too should we recognize the rights of the great apes? Yes.”
―
“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race. Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction.
{Speech accepting the John Burroughs Medal}”
―
“It takes a fearless, unflinching love and deep humility to accept the universe as it is. The most effective way he knew to accomplish that, the most powerful tool at his disposal, was the scientific method, which over time winnows out deception. It can’t give you absolute truth because science is a permanent revolution, always subject to revision, but it can give you successive approximations of reality.”
―
If you’ve read any great books about any branch of science lately, I’d love to hear about them!
Hah! I remember that Weir quote. You might appreciate melodysheep’s piece “The Poetry of Reality”, a bit of music that incorporates scientists talking about the value of science.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cd36WJ79z4
I went with Kindle highlights for today’s post.
I loved that video. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! Melodysheep has about a dozen songs in that vein, but Poetry is my favorite.
Nice. I’ll have to check out the rest of them, too.
These are excellent, thoughtful quotes. I especially like the Jane Goodall quote and the Rachel Carson quote. They remind me of humans’ small place in the universe.
Thank you very much, Deb!
I don’t read a lot of science NF or sci-fi but these are all great quotes! I love the ones from Tyson and Harari. I do have Project Hail Mary on my TBR and that quote made me chuckle—I look forward to reading the book! 😃
I hope you love Project Hail Mary. There’s a film about it in the works, too.
What a great list. I love the Rachel Carson quote.
Thank you. 🙂
It’s not non-fiction or speculative fiction but I enjoyed Never Closer by Margot Shepherd recently. One of the storylines looks at the women working in penicillin extraction in the early 1940s.
Oh, cool! That sounds good.
I’m still chuckling over the Project Hail Maty quote. 🙂
Isn’t it funny? 😀
Love Andy Weir humor, always hilarious
Agreed!
These are all such thought-provoking quotes! I love the Project Hail Mary one too, I hope to read that one soon.
Thank you. I hope you love that book (and the film based on it that’s in the works, too!)
Great quotes! I hope you’re having a happy Tuesday!
Thanks. You, too!
I’m glad to see Jane Goodall and Alan Turing made you list. Great picks!
Thank you. 🙂
I recognize a few of these names, but don’t recognize any of the quotes. Not surprising I guess since I rarely read nonfiction books! 😉 Thanks so much for visiting my website today, as always.
You’re welcome, Rissi!
Interesting quotes! I don’t read very much science fiction, and the non fiction I reHere is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!ad is usually history related. However, I do enjoy learning through reading!
Cool. 🙂
The quote from Project Hail Mary feels so relatable on so many levels.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-es-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-e/
I know, right? I can’t wait for the film.
That Project Hail Mary quote made me chuckle
Isn’t it great?
The PROJECT HAIL MARY is a great quote from a great book. I’m not much for sci-fi, but I loved that one!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Nice!
The scientific stick 🤣 I loved PJM!
😀
These are all great quotes. I like the Project Hail Mary one.
Have a great week 😊
Thanks. 🙂
Great personal twist on the prompt! I especially like the Yuval Noah Harari and Jane Goodall quotes, even though all of them were really good. And the Project Hail Mary one gave me a little giggle. Have a great week!
Thank you very much. 🙂
The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he’s one who asks the right questions.” With so many climate change deniers, I think some scientists are coming to realize that also need to become activists.
That is so very true!
These are great quotes! I love that there’s a mix of inspirational and funny quotes here.
Thanks for stopping by my TTT earlier!
You’re welcome. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words.
I like the Hawking quote!
Thank you.
I love Andy Weir, his books are some of the sci Fi books I enjoyed!
He’s such a good storyteller!
Hi,
Adams first, always loved it.
Did he know that Mr Salteena was an elderly man of 42.. ?
Love the Stephen Hawking too… Advanced breed of monkeys ? Make that a wilderness of monkeys ?
Heh, could be.
I really like the second and fifth one the most. Though it’s a week late, thankyou for visiting my post and leaving this link. Definitely a different set of quotes than others.
You’re welcome!
I do like that Neil DeGrasse Tyson quote.
🙂
Thrilled to see Project Hail Mary represented! 🙌
Yay!