Who said “Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 20 -- 20 hindsight. It's…”?

Verified

Robert M. Pirsig. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 20 -- 20 hindsight. It's good for seeing where you've been. It's good for testing the truth of what you think you know, but it can't tell you where you ought to go.”
VerifiedZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) · evidenceScience and Scientists

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974).

APA

Pirsig, R. M. (n.d.). Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 20 -- 20 hindsight. It's good for seeing where you've been. It's good for testing the truth of what you think you know, but it can't tell you where you ought to go. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36886-traditional-scientific-method-has-always-been-at-the/

MLA

Pirsig, Robert M. “Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 20 -- 20 hindsight. It's good for seeing where you've been. It's good for testing the truth of what you think you know, but it can't tell you where you ought to go.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36886-traditional-scientific-method-has-always-been-at-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Pirsig, Robert M. “Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 20 -- 20 hindsight. It's good for seeing where you've been. It's good for testing the truth of what you think you know, but it can't tell you where you ought to go.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36886-traditional-scientific-method-has-always-been-at-the/.