Scientific discovery and scientific knowledge have been achieved

Hear, O children of wisdom, the voice of Max Planck, father of quantum theory, who declared: “Scientific discovery and scientific knowledge have been achieved only by those who have gone in pursuit of it without any practical purpose whatsoever in view.” This utterance is both a revelation and a warning. It tells us that the highest truths of science are not won by those who seek profit or immediate gain, but by those who are driven by pure wonder, by an unquenchable thirst for understanding.

In the dawn of ages, men looked to the skies not to build machines, but to ask why the stars moved as they did. It was not for coin that the ancient Greeks studied the heavens, but for love of truth. From this passion came the geometry of Euclid, the astronomy of Ptolemy, and the philosophy of Aristotle. They sought knowledge not as merchants seek gold, but as lovers seek beauty—because the pursuit itself was worthy. This is the origin of all scientific discovery: the flame of curiosity that asks, what is this? why is it so?

Consider the tale of Michael Faraday, the bookbinder’s apprentice who became a giant of science. He pursued electricity and magnetism without thought of factories or industries, simply to unveil their secrets. Yet from his “impractical” experiments came the foundations of modern technology—motors, generators, communications, the very power that lights our cities. If Faraday had sought only immediate use, he would have discovered little; but because he sought truth for truth’s sake, the world gained treasures beyond imagining.

Planck himself is another witness. When he ventured into the mysteries of light and matter, no one foresaw the practical uses of quantum theory. To many, his studies seemed abstract, remote, and even absurd. Yet from this “useless” knowledge came the entire age of electronics: semiconductors, lasers, computers, and all the marvels of our modern world. Here lies the paradox: those who chase knowledge without practical purpose often give to mankind the most practical gifts of all.

Yet take heed, for Planck also warns against a narrow vision. If science is pursued only for profit, it becomes crippled; its wings are clipped, its gaze lowered. A mind that asks, “How will this enrich me?” cannot see the boundless mysteries that await. But the mind that asks, “What is the truth of this?” opens the door to wonders undreamed of. Thus, the pure pursuit of knowledge is both noble in itself and fruitful beyond measure.

The lesson, then, is clear: cherish curiosity, not only utility. Do not scorn the dreamer who studies the stars, the poet of numbers, the thinker who labors in obscurity. For often it is their unseen work, born of passion and wonder, that will one day transform the world. If you are a seeker, let your heart pursue truth without fear of its “usefulness.” If you are a teacher, encourage your students not only to prepare for jobs, but to marvel, to question, to explore.

Practical action lies in how we live each day. Read widely not only in what is “useful,” but also in what stirs awe. Support the sciences that may not yet yield profit, for from them may spring the revolutions of tomorrow. And in your own life, do not measure every moment by utility—allow space for wonder, for contemplation, for pursuit of beauty. For in these pursuits, though they seem impractical, lies the essence of being human.

Thus let this truth resound: Scientific discovery is born not from greed, but from wonder. Knowledge is not a tool only, but a treasure in itself. And the world owes its greatest triumphs not to those who asked “What use is it?” but to those who, like Faraday, like Planck, like the sages of old, sought truth for truth’s sake. So walk this path, and you will join the fellowship of those who lit the fire that guides humanity through the ages.