Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by cskinner 2128 days ago
E. M. Forster in The Machine Stops also covers the idea of primary vs secondary research.

"First-hand ideas do not really exist. They are but the physical impressions produced by love and fear, and on this gross foundation who could erect a philosophy? Let your ideas be second-hand, and if possible tenth-hand, for then they will be far removed from that disturbing element — direct observation."