"History proves abundantly that pure science, undertaken without regard to applications to human needs, is usually ultimately of direct benefit to mankind"

This quote by Irving Langmuir recommends that clinical research, even if it is not at first meant to benefit mankind, will eventually do so. He implies that history has actually revealed us that pure science, which is research that is not concentrated on practical applications, will eventually result in discoveries that can be used to enhance the lives of people. This is since scientific research study typically results in unforeseen developments that can be applied to solve real-world problems. For example, the discovery of the structure of DNA was initially a purely clinical undertaking, however it has because been used to establish treatments for hereditary illness. Langmuir's quote encourages us to continue to pursue scientific research study, even if it does not have an immediate useful application, as it might eventually cause discoveries that can benefit humanity.