Claude Bernard Quotes

Another of the qualities of science is that it teaches the value of rational thought, as well as the importance of freedom of thought; the positive results that come from doubting that all the lessons are true... Learn from science that you must doubt the experts. As a matter of fact, I can also define science another way: Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.

Hubris and science are incompatible.

I think that when we know that we actually do live in uncertainty, then we ought to admit it; it is of great value to realize that we do not know the answers to different questions. This attitude of mind - this attitude of uncertainty - is vital to the scientist, and it is this attitude of mind which the student must first acquire.

True science teaches, above all, to doubt and to be ignorant.

True science teaches, above all, to doubt

The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. Even those of the intelligent who believe that they have a nostrum are too individualistic to combine with other intelligent men from whom they differ on minor points.

Intellectual modesty is humility as to what I know; intellectual humility is modesty as to what I do not know

Only the fools are certain and assured.

Doubt is clearly a value in science. It is important to doubt and that the doubt is not a fearful thing, but a thing of great value.

It would be the height of absurdity to label ignorance tempered by humility "faith"! (Institutio III.2.3)

If ... it is not in my power to arrive at the knowledge of any truth, I may at least do what is in my power, namely, suspend judgement.

I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance.

To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

But, in the name of the experimental method and out of our poor knowledge, are we really entitled to claim that everything happens by chance, to the exclusion of all other possibilities?

The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing.

The main battle is to make people realise that doubt is important. Doubt is good. The 'don't know' answer sometimes is the box you should tick, and it's about not being scared about that fact. Even the greatest minds don't know everything.

All thing I thought I knew; but now confess, the more I know I know, I know the less.

So far as hypotheses are concerned, let no one expect anything certain from astronomy, which cannot furnish it, lest he accept as the truth ideas conceived for another purpose, and depart from this study a greater fool than when he entered it.

Doubt is not below knowledge, but above it.

I don't know anything about science.

Who knows most, doubts most.

It would not be wise for us to say we know what we don't know.

Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.

Let your tongue become accustomed to the words “I do not know”.