Insightful Quotes About Discovery for You to Explore

Welcome to our carefully curated collection of quotes about discovery. Discovery can mean discovering places and ideas in the world in general -- learning about the universe -- scientific discovery -- exploration and adventure -- and of course it can be more specific - like personal self-discovery. Really it all goes hand in hand, and is intertwined, right?

We have another collection specific to quotes on self-discovery that you might also like to check out.

We hope you enjoy pondering these discovery quotes and shareable quote pictures, that they give you inspiration, and please share them widely (links back to us expected and appreciated!)

Quote: Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. by author Andre Gide overlaid on photo of orange moon during nighttime
Photo Credit: Hugo Kemmel

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.


Quote: Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. by author Henry David Thoreau overlaid on photo of grayscale photo of person and dog holding hands
Photo Credit: Fabian Gieske

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.


Quote: Love, like everything else in life, should be a discovery, an adventure, and like most adventures, you don't know you're having one until you're right in the middle of it. by author E. A. Bucchianeri overlaid on photo of photo of author E. A. Bucchianeri with quote

Love, like everything else in life, should be a discovery, an adventure, and like most adventures, you don't know you're having one until you're right in the middle of it.


Quote: Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. by author Noam Chomsky overlaid on photo of green forest during daytime
Photo Credit: Rural Explorer

Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things.


Quote: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. by author Mahatma Gandhi overlaid on photo of person holding gray leaf
Photo Credit: Jakob Owens

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.


Quote: All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them. by author Galileo Galilei overlaid on photo of closeup photo of bird beside purple petal flowers
Photo Credit: Ray Hennessy

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.


Quote: If we have learned one thing from the history of invention and discovery, it is that, in the long run-and often in the short one-the most daring prophecies seem laughably conservative. by author Arthur C. Clarke overlaid on photo of blue and white abstract painting
Photo Credit: Jené Stephaniuk

If we have learned one thing from the history of invention and discovery, it is that, in the long run-and often in the short one-the most daring prophecies seem laughably conservative.


Quote: I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also to those which I have intentionally omitted so as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery. by author René Descartes overlaid on photo of photo of author René Descartes with quote

I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also to those which I have intentionally omitted so as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery.


Quote: There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery. by author Enrico Fermi overlaid on photo of yellow textile
Photo Credit: Katie Harp

There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.


Quote: Discovery is the journey; insight is the destination. by author Gary Hamel overlaid on photo of man hugging woman
Photo Credit: Kate Kalvach

Discovery is the journey; insight is the destination.


Quote: We are discovering what the universe is really like, and it is totally magnificent, and one can only be inspired and awestruck by what we find. by author John C. Mather overlaid on photo of blue sky and white clouds
Photo Credit: Erik Hansman

We are discovering what the universe is really like, and it is totally magnificent, and one can only be inspired and awestruck by what we find.




Quote: For the artist, drawing is discovery. And that is not just a slick phrase; it is quite literally true. by author John Berger overlaid on photo of three person looking stars and milky way
Photo Credit: Benjamin Davies

For the artist, drawing is discovery. And that is not just a slick phrase; it is quite literally true.


Quote: It is a process of discovery. It's being quiet enough and undisturbed enough for a period of time so that the songs can begin to sort of peek out, and you begin to have emotional experiences in a musical way. by author James Taylor overlaid on photo of calm ocean
Photo Credit: Ryan Stone

It is a process of discovery. It's being quiet enough and undisturbed enough for a period of time so that the songs can begin to sort of peek out, and you begin to have emotional experiences in a musical way.


Quote: The most wonderful discovery made by scientists is science itself. by author Jacob Bronowski overlaid on photo of man holding brown violin
Photo Credit: Miti

The most wonderful discovery made by scientists is science itself.


Quote: There'll always be serendipity involved in discovery. by author Jeff Bezos overlaid on photo of green lizard
Photo Credit: Mark Stoop

There'll always be serendipity involved in discovery.


Quote: Mistakes are the portals of discovery. by author James Joyce overlaid on photo of green trees on forest during daytime
Photo Credit: Adam Bixby

Mistakes are the portals of discovery.


Quote: Reason we call that faculty innate in us of discovering laws and applying them with thought. by author Hermann von Helmholtz overlaid on photo of silhouette of off-road car
Photo Credit: Jonatan Pie

Reason we call that faculty innate in us of discovering laws and applying them with thought.


Quote: One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do. by author Henry Ford overlaid on photo of foggy mountains
Photo Credit: Simon Berger

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do.


Quote: Mathematical discoveries, small or great are never born of spontaneous generation. by author Henri Poincare overlaid on photo of sunset
Photo Credit: DiscoverQuotes Staff

Mathematical discoveries, small or great are never born of spontaneous generation.




We've discovered the secret of life.




Quote: One is always considered mad, when one discovers something that others cannot grasp. by author Ed Wood overlaid on photo of leafless tree on body of water during daytime
Photo Credit: Jack B

One is always considered mad, when one discovers something that others cannot grasp.




Quote: There's two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery. by author Enrico Fermi overlaid on photo of green and black hummingbird
Photo Credit: Hugo Brightling

There's two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.


Quote: Through every rift of discovery some seeming anomaly drops out of the darkness, and falls, as a golden link into the great chain of order. by author Edwin Hubbel Chapin overlaid on photo of swimming pool with stainless steel ladder
Photo Credit: Etienne Girardet

Through every rift of discovery some seeming anomaly drops out of the darkness, and falls, as a golden link into the great chain of order.


Quote: I didn't do my work for money or prizes -- only for the excitement of discovery. by author Edmund Phelps overlaid on photo of pink tulip flower
Photo Credit: Marc Schulte

I didn't do my work for money or prizes -- only for the excitement of discovery.


Quote: There is no better high than discovery. by author Edward O. Wilson overlaid on photo of three people paddling in canoe
Photo Credit: Braxton Stuntz

There is no better high than discovery.


Quote: All great discoveries are made by men whose feelings run ahead of their thinking. by author Charles Henry Parkhurst overlaid on photo of white heart illustration
Photo Credit: Nicola Fioravanti

All great discoveries are made by men whose feelings run ahead of their thinking.


Quote: Thought is the original source of all wealth, all success, all material gain, all great discoveries and inventions, and of all achievement. by author Claude M. Bristol overlaid on photo of brown grass field near gray rocky mountain during daytime
Photo Credit: Ian Merzwinski

Thought is the original source of all wealth, all success, all material gain, all great discoveries and inventions, and of all achievement.


Quote: For the continued survival of our planet and humanity, it is crucial that certain discoveries and skills and inventions made by people over the years be passed on from one human generation to the next, from one person, face-to-face, to another. by author Chris Raschka overlaid on photo of photo of author Chris Raschka with quote

For the continued survival of our planet and humanity, it is crucial that certain discoveries and skills and inventions made by people over the years be passed on from one human generation to the next, from one person, face-to-face, to another.


Quote: Technological discoveries are the spermatozoa of social change. by author C. L. R. James overlaid on photo of silver click pen on white paper
Photo Credit: R Mo

Technological discoveries are the spermatozoa of social change.


Quote: The secret to discovery is to never believe existing facts. by author Bryant McGill overlaid on photo of closeup photography of black and brown bird
Photo Credit: Boris Smokrovic

The secret to discovery is to never believe existing facts.




Quote: The crucial discovery was made that, in order to become painting, the universe seen by the artist had to become a private one created by himself. by author Andre Malraux overlaid on photo of bird on pier
Photo Credit: DiscoverQuotes Staff

The crucial discovery was made that, in order to become painting, the universe seen by the artist had to become a private one created by himself.


Quote: The discovery of agriculture was the first big step toward a civilized life. by author Arthur Keith overlaid on photo of brown grass field during daytime
Photo Credit: Tanja Žaria‡

The discovery of agriculture was the first big step toward a civilized life.


Quote: The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice. by author Arthur Schopenhauer overlaid on photo of photo of author Arthur Schopenhauer with quote

The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.


Quote: I love going to museums, especially the Met, because there's always room for discovery, or the Neue Galerie. It's a great jewel box. by author Aerin Lauder overlaid on photo of adult black puppy in yellow raincoat
Photo Credit: Charles Deluvio

I love going to museums, especially the Met, because there's always room for discovery, or the Neue Galerie. It's a great jewel box.


Quote: A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind. by author Albert Szent-Györgyi overlaid on photo of person with flashlight near lighted green tree on mountain under starry night
Photo Credit: Brent Cox

A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.


Quote: Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought. by author Albert Szent-Györgyi overlaid on photo of three person looking stars and milky way
Photo Credit: Benjamin Davies

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought.


Quote: I believe myself to possess a most singular combination of qualities exactly fitted to make me pre-eminently a discoverer of the hidden realities of nature. by author Ada Lovelace overlaid on photo of river between trees under blue sky
Photo Credit: Eutah Mizushima

I believe myself to possess a most singular combination of qualities exactly fitted to make me pre-eminently a discoverer of the hidden realities of nature.


Quote: I invent nothing, I rediscover. by author Auguste Rodin overlaid on photo of body of water near mountains
Photo Credit: Nathan Dumlao

I invent nothing, I rediscover.


Quote: The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards. by author Arthur Koestler overlaid on photo of man standing on sand while spreading arms beside calm body of water
Photo Credit: KAL VISUALS

The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.


Quote: I have never restricted myself to my strengths and abilities, as they are unlimited, and I am still discovering them. by author Arjun Kapoor overlaid on photo of black mountain under blue sky during night time
Photo Credit: Marcus Dall Col

I have never restricted myself to my strengths and abilities, as they are unlimited, and I am still discovering them.


Quote: Whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that all ingenious people might be informed thereof. by author Antonie van Leeuwenhoek overlaid on photo of group of camels walking on desert lake at daytime
Photo Credit: Susan Toyofuku

Whenever I found out anything remarkable, I have thought it my duty to put down my discovery on paper, so that all ingenious people might be informed thereof.


Quote: The universe at large is full of questions that we still don't know anything about, and there will be always young people, brilliant, who are going to make new discoveries. by author Ahmed Zewail overlaid on photo of orange leaves tree
Photo Credit: Cristina Gottardi

The universe at large is full of questions that we still don't know anything about, and there will be always young people, brilliant, who are going to make new discoveries.


Quote: Discoveries are often made by not following instructions, by going off the main road, by trying the untried. by author Frank Tyger overlaid on photo of coconut tree near body of water
Photo Credit: Pedro Monteiro

Discoveries are often made by not following instructions, by going off the main road, by trying the untried.


Quote: Try to discover The road to success And you'll seek but never find, But blaze your own path And the road to success Will trail right behind. by author Robert Breault overlaid on photo of foggy mountains
Photo Credit: Simon Berger

Try to discover The road to success And you'll seek but never find, But blaze your own path And the road to success Will trail right behind.


Quote: History shows that new discoveries are always just over the horizon. by author Larry Levine overlaid on photo of person in red shirt walking on brown field under gray sky during daytime
Photo Credit: Clay Banks

History shows that new discoveries are always just over the horizon.


Quote: The greatest discoveries are those we make about ourselves. by author Ralph Waldo Emerson overlaid on photo of person holding yellow petaled flower
Photo Credit: Kawin Harasai

The greatest discoveries are those we make about ourselves.


Quote: There is a depth in most things that people seldom discover! by author Avijeet Das overlaid on photo of black and white butterfly on green leaf
Photo Credit: Meg Jerrard

There is a depth in most things that people seldom discover!


Quote: We travel abroad to discover in distant lands something whose presence at home has become unrecognisable. by author Michel de Certeau overlaid on photo of black dragonfly perched on green grass in close up photography during daytime
Photo Credit: Serge van Neck

We travel abroad to discover in distant lands something whose presence at home has become unrecognisable.


Quote: One recognizes one's course by discovering the paths that stray from it. by author Albert Camus overlaid on photo of green leaf tree on shore
Photo Credit: Todd Quackenbush

One recognizes one's course by discovering the paths that stray from it.


Quote: Total commitment. You know, the idea of discovering something that, for all intents and purposes, goes against your abilities, and yet still deciding to do it anyway. That takes guts, you know? by author Sarah Dessen overlaid on photo of woman in black tank top
Photo Credit: Estefania Cortes

Total commitment. You know, the idea of discovering something that, for all intents and purposes, goes against your abilities, and yet still deciding to do it anyway. That takes guts, you know?


Quote: To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. by author Bruce Lee overlaid on photo of water droplets on green leaf
Photo Credit: Scott Webb

To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery.


Quote: Every day is not just another assignment; it is a small, but contained voyage of discovery. by author David Doubilet overlaid on photo of person standing on rock beside body of water between green trees
Photo Credit: Steve Carter

Every day is not just another assignment; it is a small, but contained voyage of discovery.


Quote: Find out what it is that touches you most deeply. Pursue it, learn about it, explore it, expand on it. Live with it and nurture it. Find your own way and make your own contribution. by author Nimoy Leonard overlaid on photo of elephant on green grass field during daytime
Photo Credit: Hans-Jurgen Mager

Find out what it is that touches you most deeply. Pursue it, learn about it, explore it, expand on it. Live with it and nurture it. Find your own way and make your own contribution.


Quote: Much is yet to be discovered and invented, so dig ideas with uniqueness. by author Aniekee Tochukwu Ezekiel overlaid on photo of man raising arms between greenfield
Photo Credit: Hanny Naibaho

Much is yet to be discovered and invented, so dig ideas with uniqueness.


Quote: Some fish love to swim upstream. Some people love to overcome challenges. by author Amit Ray overlaid on photo of brown rock formation on body of water during daytime
Photo Credit: Loren Cutler

Some fish love to swim upstream. Some people love to overcome challenges.


Quote: If we persist in our restless desire to know everything about the universe and ourselves, then we must not be afraid of what the artist brings back from his voyage of discovery. by author Herbert Read overlaid on photo of silhouette of flying bird
Photo Credit: Shreyas Malavalli

If we persist in our restless desire to know everything about the universe and ourselves, then we must not be afraid of what the artist brings back from his voyage of discovery.


Quote: The urge to discover, to invent, to know the unknown, seems so deeply human that we cannot imagine our history without it. by author Alan Lightman overlaid on photo of yellow and purple flower with white background
Photo Credit: Flavia Bon

The urge to discover, to invent, to know the unknown, seems so deeply human that we cannot imagine our history without it.


Quote: I can speak to my soul only when the two of us are off exploring deserts or cities or mountains or roads. by author Paulo Coelho overlaid on photo of red metal bridge over river
Photo Credit: J. Balla Photography

I can speak to my soul only when the two of us are off exploring deserts or cities or mountains or roads.


Quote: Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge. by author Stephen Hawking overlaid on photo of green leafed tree on body of water under starry sky
Photo Credit: nate rayfield

Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge.


Quote: The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand. by author Frank Herbert overlaid on photo of person standing on top of mountain
Photo Credit: Alessandro Erbetta

The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.


Quote: What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. by author Bertrand Russell overlaid on photo of green trees on body of water during daytime
Photo Credit: diGital Sennin

What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite.


Quote: The process of scientific discovery is, in effect, a continual flight from wonder. by author Albert Einstein overlaid on photo of sunset
Photo Credit: DiscoverQuotes Staff

The process of scientific discovery is, in effect, a continual flight from wonder.


Quote: There is no logical way to the discovery of these elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance. by author Albert Einstein overlaid on photo of silhouette of praying man
Photo Credit: nega

There is no logical way to the discovery of these elemental laws. There is only the way of intuition, which is helped by a feeling for the order lying behind the appearance.


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