"There is not much that even the most socially responsible scientists can do as individuals, or even as a group, about the social consequences of their activities"

This quote by Eric Hobsbawm recommends that, in spite of the very best efforts of scientists to be socially responsible, there is a limitation to what they can do to address the social repercussions of their activities. Hobsbawm suggests that, while scientists may be able to take steps to reduce the unfavorable effects of their work, they are eventually limited in their ability to resolve the broader social implications of their research study. This could be due to an absence of resources, or a lack of understanding of the wider ramifications of their work. Eventually, Hobsbawm suggests that, while scientists can aim to be socially accountable, they are limited in their ability to resolve the social effects of their activities.