Why Anyone Would Choose This “Madness”

When I talk to students about science, I often get the same reaction: “Why would you want to do this?”

It’s a fair question. Science demands long hours, countless failed experiments, and a tolerance for rejection that can feel endless. On paper, the risk-to-reward ratio looks pretty terrible. And yet, people like me (and countless others before me) still choose this path.

Reading Martin A. Schwartz’s essay, Why would anyone want to be a scientist?, I recognized truths that I’ve already started to see in my own training. He calls the scientist’s life “madness,” but he also shows why it’s deeply rewarding.

The First Pleasure: The Spark of an Idea

Schwartz describes the joy of that first insight—the moment when scattered thoughts suddenly connect into something new. It doesn’t happen under a microscope or when you’re staring at data; it happens when you least expect it. Driving, walking, even reaching for groceries. And suddenly, the idea just clicks.

I’ve had smaller versions of this already. The late-night “what if” that sends me back to the lab notebook. The flash of connection between two things I thought were unrelated. These moments feel almost magical. But they only come if you care about the question and put in the groundwork first.

The Second Pleasure: Watching Ideas Grow

The spark is only the beginning. The second pleasure comes months (or years) later, as that idea takes shape. You test it, refine it, and sometimes watch it evolve into something bigger than you imagined.

Schwartz compares this to gardening, and I think that’s perfect. You plant a seed, tend to it, and if you’re patient, you might see it bloom into something you didn’t predict. In science, that growth is beautiful, because it’s reality itself showing you its hidden connections.

The Third Pleasure: Sharing the Story

Finally, there’s the act of telling others, through conversations, conferences, and publications. The discovery isn’t complete until it’s shared.

This resonates with me as someone training in medicine and science. When another person sees what you’ve seen, the joy doubles. Even more importantly, the discovery becomes part of a community effort. What you’ve built fuels someone else’s work.

A Word of Reality

Schwartz also warns against chasing only recognition or rewards. Those things can feel good, but they’re hollow on their own. If you don’t have an inner drive to understand, you’ll burn out quickly.

He even points out something humbling: most of us will be forgotten. Even Nobel Prize winners fade into the background of history. That sounds bleak, but to me, it’s freeing. It means the value isn’t in being remembered; it’s in contributing to the greater body of knowledge that outlives us all.

Why This Matters for You

If you’re a student wondering whether science is worth it, here’s what I’d say:

• Don’t do it for prestige or recognition.
  
  
• Do it if the questions themselves keep you up at night.
  
  
• Do it if you love the spark, the growth, and the chance to share discoveries with others.
  
  

Science isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But for those who can live with the madness, it’s one of the most satisfying lives you can choose.

👉 If you’d like to read Schwartz’s original essay, it’s available here: Why would anyone want to be a scientist? .