Albert Einstein (quoted by Philipp Frank in "Einstein's philosophy of Science"):
It is easy to take the well-trodden path. It is easy to replicate someone else's idea and ship it. It is not easy to be the first to do something.
It is a lot more challenging to drill holes in the thick parts of the proverbial board of wood, to solve real problems that make a difference.
Borrowing from what another great man once said, we can either sell sugar water. Or we can make a dent in the Universe.
I have little patience with scientists who take a board of wood, look for its thinnest part, and drill a great number of holes where drilling is easy.Most of us drill holes where drilling is easy, if we drill at all.
It is easy to take the well-trodden path. It is easy to replicate someone else's idea and ship it. It is not easy to be the first to do something.
It is a lot more challenging to drill holes in the thick parts of the proverbial board of wood, to solve real problems that make a difference.
Borrowing from what another great man once said, we can either sell sugar water. Or we can make a dent in the Universe.
CONVERSATION