Quotes About Inquiry

Here the ways of men divide. If you wish to strive for peace of soul and happiness, then believe; if you wish to be a disciple of truth, then inquire.

I remain a simple man who has more questions than answers. Please join me as I seek to turn that tide.

The House of the Venerable and Inscrutable Colonel was what they called it when they were speaking Chinese. Venerable because of his goatee, white as the dogwood blossom, a badge of unimpeachable credibility in Confucian eyes. Inscrutable because he had gone to his grave without divulging the Secret of the Eleven Herbs and Spices.

Izzy was full of people who were skewed toward the Asperger's end of the social spectrum, and there was no better way to get them to start talking than to ask them a technical question.

The rule of thumb we've been using is that Deolaters are welcome as long as they're not certain they're right," I said. "As soon as you're sure you're right, there's no point in your being here.

I don't get this, Hiro says. What is Snow Crash? It's a drug, asshole, the guy says. What do you think?

When you say 'plugged it in,' could you please tell me everything you plugged into it?" Peter had now dropped, improbably, into a polite, clinical mode, like a customer service rep in a Bangalore cubicle farm.

Get where?" Yul demanded.

had in mind a Dr. Waterhouse," Eliza said. "He was cut for the stone recently." The Marquis got the same aghast, cringing, yet fascinated look that all men did whenever the topic of lithotomy arose

How can you remember shit like that?" Ty asked.

Pursuing an explanation for every strange thing you see in the Philippines is like trying to get every last bit of rainwater out of a discarded tire.

What is BFR?" asked Pete Starling. For the graph's vertical scale was labeled thus. "Bolide Fragmentation Rate

What do you mean?" Yul asked.

Past Data should not be the basis of Present Truth. Data from a prior time or experience should always and only be the basis for new questions. Always the treasure should be in the question, not in the answer.

Do you really want an answer to all these questions, or are you just venting?

Right now your schools exist primarily to provide answers. It would be far more beneficial if their primary function was to ask questions. What does it mean to be honest, or responsible, or "fair"? What are the implications? For that matter, what does it mean that 2+2=4? What are the implications? Highly evolved societies encourage all children to discover and create those answers for themselves.

It's funny how people ask that as soon as they get you on the phone. I think it's a byproduct of cell phones: people—girls and moms especially—want to nail you down in physical space. The fact is that you could be anywhere on a cell phone and it shouldn't be important where you are. But it becomes the first thing people ask.

Craig, where are you?" It's funny how people ask that as soon as they get you on the phone. I think it's a byproduct of cell phones: people—girls and moms especially—want to nail you down in physical space. The fact is that you could be anywhere on a cell phone and it shouldn't be important where you are. But it becomes the first thing people ask.

Why" is a nasty little Protestant word, you follow? Catholics, now, say, "Credo, I Believe," to whatever the Pope says. If you want to ask "Why?" go ask the Anglican vicar to instruct you in unbelief and he will let you "Why-why-why?" to your heart's content.

I would teach how science works as much as I would teach what science knows. I would assert (given that essentially, everyone will learn to read) that science literacy is the most important kind of literacy they can take into the 21st century. I would undervalue grades based on knowing things and find ways to reward curiosity. In the end, it's the people who are curious who change the world.

Scientific inquiry shouldn't stop just because a reasonable explanation has apparently been found.

It's okay not to know all the answers. It's better to admit our ignorance than to believe answers that might be wrong. Pretending to know everything, closes the door to finding out what's really there.

True science literacy is less about what you know and more about how your brain is wired for asking questions.

Science literacy is less about what you know and more about how your brain is wired for asking questions.