"Our assessment of socio-economic worth is largely a sham. We scientists should not lend ourselves to it - though we routinely do. We should, instead, insist on applying the criterion of quality"

In this quote, John Charles Polanyi critiques the prevailing systems used to evaluate socio-economic worth, suggesting that these systems are basically flawed or sly ("a sham"). Polanyi appears to argue that the present techniques of assessment, which often factor into decisions about financing, assistance, and recognition, prioritize economic gains or shallow metrics over genuine quality or substantive worth.

Polanyi's assertion that "we scientists need to not provide ourselves to it" recommends a call to action for the clinical community to resist taking part in or endorsing these shallow assessments. By doing so, scientists may unintentionally verify or perpetuate these flawed systems, ultimately jeopardizing scientific integrity and the pursuit of genuine understanding. For this reason, when he specifies "though we regularly do", there is a recommendation of a prevalent unwillingness or failure among scientists to challenge these norms, perhaps due to pressures from funding bodies, institutions, or a culture that corresponds worth with financial or measurable outputs.

The final part of the quote, "We should, instead, demand applying the criterion of quality", works as an instruction for researchers to recalibrate their focus. It requires an emphasis on the intrinsic worth and merit of clinical ventures rather than their financial utility or shallow measures of success. Quality, in this context, may incorporate numerous elements, such as creativity, rigor, ethical considerations, impact, and the pursuit of truth.

Overall, Polanyi's statement is a critique of the shallow valuation metrics in the socio-economic domain, prompting the clinical neighborhood to maintain a standard of quality that goes beyond simple economic or bureaucratic evaluations. This quote challenges researchers to promote intellectual and ethical stability, cultivating an environment where real clinical improvement and humanistic contributions are valued for their extensive and lasting impact instead of for transient financial signs.