No one trusts a model except the man who wrote it; everyone trusts an observation, except the man who made it.
Interpretation
Trust is often misplaced in models created by individuals yet placed in observations made by others.
This quote by Harlow Shapley emphasizes the inherent skepticism that exists in the realm of scientific modeling versus direct observation. Models, which are often abstractions created from theoretical understanding, may not always be trusted by those who are familiar with their limitations, while direct observations tend to carry more weight and credibility in the scientific community, despite the possibility of bias from the observer themselves. This paradox underscores the complexities of trust in scientific endeavors and the different weights we give to theory versus empirical evidence.
In practice
In a discussion about scientific methodology, this quote could be used to highlight the importance of empirical evidence over theoretical frameworks.
Whenever we find, in two forms of life that are unrelated to each other, a similarity of form or of behaviour patterns which relates to more than a few minor details, we assume it to be caused by parallel adaptation to the same life-preserving function.
For centuries, magicians have intuitively taken advantage of the inner workings of our brains.
During my medical education at the University of Basle I found vivisection horrible, barbarous and above all unnecessary
Mystics exult in mystery and want it to stay mysterious. Scientists exult in mystery for a different reason: It gives them something to do.
My emotional investment is in finding truth. If string theory is wrong, I'd like to have known that yesterday. But if we can show it today or tomorrow, fantastic.
In the Radiation Laboratory we count it a privilege to do everything we can to assist our medical colleagues in the application of these new tools to the problems of human suffering.
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