Full Idea
One might say, with the pragmatists, that all science reduces itself to a process of action on nature, but it is necessary to add the word methodical.
Gist of Idea
Pragmatists are right that science is action on nature - but it must be methodical
Source
Simone Weil (Lect 2: Discovery of Mind [1933], p.111)
Book Reference
Weil,Simone: 'Lectures on Philosophy' [CUP 1978], p.111
A Reaction
This seems to be a sort of hybrid pragmatism, where the required success is not achieved by mere blind trial-and-error - which sounds obvious. Theory is needed - but that too can be explained pragmatically.