"The developing science departs at the same time more and more from its original scope and purpose and threatens to sacrifice its earlier unity and split into diverse branches"

This quote by Felix Klein speaks to the concept that science is continuously progressing and expanding. As it does so, it is departing from its initial scope and purpose, and is in risk of ending up being fragmented into various branches. This might be viewed as a caution that science need to not become too specialized, and should rather aim to maintain its unity and stability. It is necessary to keep in mind that science is a cumulative effort, which it needs to not be divided into separate disciplines. By keeping its original scope and purpose in mind, science can stay unified and continue to make progress.