We Must Act Without All the Facts
It is not enough to say that we cannot know or judge because all the information is not in. The process of gathering knowledge does not lead to knowing. A child's world spreads only a little beyond his understanding while that of a great scientist thrusts outward immeasurably. An answer is invariably the parent of a great family of new questions. So we draw worlds and fit them like tracings against the world about us, and crumple them when we find they do not fit and draw new ones.
Edward F. Ricketts, John Steinbeck, Sea of Cortez: a Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research (2009-07-08)
Notes
Just as children operate without all the data, we cannot use a lack of data to excuse inaction.
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great scientist thrusts, new ones, great family, new questions, data, world, tracings, lack, worlds, parent, answer, Facts