When a distinguished elderly scientist states that something is possible, they are almost certainly right, but when they state something is impossible, they are probably wrong.
Article: Clarke's three laws
Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke formulated the following three laws:
- When a distinguished elderly scientist states that something is possible, they are almost certainly right, but when they state something is impossible, they are probably wrong.
- The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
- Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Isaac Asimov has the corollary to Clarke's First Law:
"When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elderly scientists and supports that idea with great fervor and emotion — the distinguished but elderly scientists are then, after all, probably right."
I also like the inverse of the third law proposed by Gregory Benford:
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.