A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
Interpretation
Even incorrect ideas can lead to valuable discoveries through thoughtful exploration.
This quote by Isaac Asimov emphasizes the importance of inquiry and critical thinking. It suggests that even if a thought or idea starts off as mistaken, it can provoke questions and discussions that may lead to significant truths and insights, highlighting the value of examination and exploration in the pursuit of knowledge.
In practice
During a class discussion on scientific discoveries, this quote can be shared to encourage students to explore unconventional ideas.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
To bring about destruction by overcrowding, mass starvation, anarchy, the destruction of our most cherished values, there is no need to do anything. We need only do nothing except what comes naturally, and breed. And how easy it is to do nothing
To distract myself from tiresome thoughts, I have only to resort to books; they easily draw my mind to themselves and away from other things.
Ponder just let it happen. It's because their minds are so often involved with deep and problematic matters, he told himself, that their mouths are allowed to wander around making a nuisance of themselves.
It is always far easier to have faith in your own goodness than to confront others ad fight for your rights.
There's nothing worse than being an aging young person.
It could be that one of the greatest hindrances to evangelism is the poverty of our own experience.
I feel very lucky to have grown up having interaction with adults who were making change but who were far from perfect beings. That feeling of not being paralyzed by your incredible inadequacy as a human being, which I feel every day, is a part of the legacy that I've gotten from so many of the adult elders.
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