Outside his own ever-narrowing field of specialization, a scientist is a layman. What members of an academy of science have in common is a certain form of semiparasitic living.

Summary

This quote suggests that a scientist, despite being an expert in a specific field, is considered a layman in areas outside of their specialization. It implies that their in-depth knowledge may not necessarily extend to diverse subjects. Additionally, it states that members of a scientific academy have a semi-dependent existence, possibly indicating that they live off the resources and reputation of the academy while focusing on their own specialized work. In essence, the quote emphasizes the limitations of a scientist's expertise beyond their narrow field and suggests a symbiotic relationship between scientists and their scientific community.

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