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...great difficulties are felt at first and these cannot be overcome except by starting from experiments .. and then be conceiving certain hypotheses ... But even so, very much hard work remains to be done and one needs not only great perspicacity but often a degree of good fortune.
Christiaan Huygens
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Overcoming challenges requires experimentation and hard work, along with insight and some luck.

This quote by Christiaan Huygens emphasizes the necessity of experimentation and hypothesis formation in overcoming great difficulties. It highlights that while initial challenges may seem daunting, perseverance through diligent work and insightful reasoning, combined with a bit of fortunate timing, can lead to success in complex endeavors.

Themes

DifficultyExperimentationHypothesesWorkPerspicacityLuck

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can inspire students beginning a challenging science project.

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The world is my country. Science my religion.
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