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About this quote

What does it mean?
Understanding comes easily after discovery, but the hard part is making the discovery itself.
In plain terms
Once you find the truth, it seems obvious; finding it is the real challenge.
What can you take from it?
Focus on discovering truths rather than just understanding them.

Where it applies

  • scientific research
  • problem solving
  • learning

Putting it to work

  • investigate thoroughly
  • prioritize discovery

Questions to consider

  • Why is discovery harder than understanding?
  • What prevents us from finding obvious truths?

Another view

Some truths remain difficult to understand even after discovery.

More from Galileo Galilei

  1. I cannot without great wonder, nay more, disbelief, hear it being attributed to natural bodies as a great honor and perfection that they are impassable, immuta…

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  2. Mathematics is the key and door to the sciences.

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  3. See now the power of truth; the same experiment which at first glance seemed to show one thing, when more carefully examined, assures us of the contrary.

    Permalink to quote #16

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