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Facts are the air of scientists. Without them you can never fly.
Linus Pauling
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Facts are essential for scientific progress and understanding; without them, one cannot achieve true knowledge.

In this quote, Linus Pauling emphasizes the importance of facts in scientific inquiry. Just as air is necessary for flight, facts provide the foundation for scientists to explore, hypothesize, and innovate. Without grounding one's work in empirical evidence, it is impossible to reach meaningful conclusions or advancements, underscoring the necessity of a factual basis in all scientific endeavors.

Themes

FactsScienceKnowledgeTruthEvidence

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a classroom setting when discussing the scientific method.

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Every aspect of the world today - even politics and international relations - is affected by chemistry.
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Just one living cell in the human body is, more complex than New York City.
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By the proper intakes of vitamins and other nutrients and by following a few other healthful practices from youth or middle age on, you can, I believe, extend your life and years of well-being by twenty-five or even thirty-five years.
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