In science, "fact" can only mean "confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent." I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms.

  • -- Stephen Jay Gould 斯蒂芬·杰·古尔德

在科学上,“事实”只能表示“被证实到一定程度,而不予以暂时的同意是反常的”。我认为苹果明天可能会开始上涨,但这种可能性不值得在物理课堂上花同样的时间。

相关名言

Equality, rightly understood as our founding fathers understood it, leads to liberty and to the emancipation of creative differences; wrongly understood, as it has been so tragically in our time, it leads first to conformity and then to despotism.

平等,正如我们的开国元勋们所正确理解的那样,将导致自由和创造性分歧的解放;正如在我们这个时代所发生的悲剧一样,对它的错误理解,首先导致了顺从,然后导致了专制。

I went to school for clothing and textiles and thought this is what I was going to do. Then I started working in costumes and literally said, 'I don't know if I can take the actors.'

我上的是服装和纺织品学校,我想这就是我要做的。然后我开始穿上戏服,我真的说,‘我不知道我能不能带上演员。’

With the advent of genetic engineering the time required for the evolution of new species may literally collapse.

随着基因工程的出现,新物种进化所需的时间可能会大幅减少。

I got into law school to supplement my business background. I'm not planning to practice law.

我进入法学院是为了补充我的商业背景。我不打算做律师。