The recent conversation reminded me of some more great quotes from Bill Watterson’s Calvin & Hobbes that are more or less related to science, empirical work or writing (theses), or can at least well be used in that context. All of the following was “said” by Calvin:
That’s the whole problem with science. You’ve got a bunch of empiricists trying to describe things of unimaginable wonder.
How can something seem so plausible at the time and so idiotic in retrospect?
Reality continues to ruin my life.
What on earth am I doing here on this beautfiful day?! This is the only life I’ve got!!
I realized that the purpose of writing is to inflate weak ideas, obscure reasoning, and inhibit clarity.
Once you become informed, you start seeing complexities and shades of gray. You realize that nothing is as clear and simple as it first appears.
Curiosity is the essence of the scientific mind.
I figure the last two (or three ;-) would be decent quotes to start my PhD thesis with.