People
When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
— Arthur C. Clarke
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
When a respected older scientist calls something possible, he is very likely correct; when he calls something impossible, he is probably mistaken. The speaker warns that declaring limits is riskier than allowing possibilities, and that authority tends to underestimate what future work can achieve.
Context reviewed