The professor emphasized to Fred that relying on unobservable concepts like God, the soul, or elementary particles for scientific calculations is fundamentally flawed and represents a form of weakness. He acknowledged that while comfort is a natural human need, scientists must strive for more rigorous foundations in their work rather than indulging in speculative ideas.

This perspective suggests that true scientific inquiry should be grounded in observable and testable phenomena. The professor's insistence on this principle highlights the importance of maintaining a disciplined approach to science, encouraging rigor over comfort in the pursuit of knowledge.