Michael Polanyi

The attempt to separate facts from values is ultimately futile.

The freedom of science is a fragile achievement that must be constantly defended.

The scientist's responsibility extends beyond the laboratory to society as a whole.

The meaning of a scientific problem is not given, but discovered through inquiry.

The tacit dimension of knowledge is what makes human learning possible.

The scientist's commitment to truth is a form of intellectual courage.

The attempt to achieve complete objectivity in science is a self-defeating endeavor.

The freedom of science is not a license for irresponsibility, but a condition for responsible inquiry.

The aim of a skilful performance is achieved by the observance of a set of rules which are not known as such to the person following them.

Comprehension is neither an arbitrary act nor a passive experience, but a responsible act claiming universal validity.

The process of knowing is a continuous dialogue between the explicit and the tacit.

Discovery is a creative act, not a mechanical process.

We can know things, and important things, that we cannot tell.

The scientist does not merely observe; he looks for something.

The act of discovery always contains an irrational element, or a creative intuition.

Commitment is the foundation of all knowledge.

The structure of scientific discovery is a pattern of thought-in-action.

True knowledge is personal, involving the knower's own participation and commitment.

The process of verification in science is ultimately grounded in the tacit powers of the scientific community.

The pursuit of knowledge is an act of indwelling.