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Full Idea
Scientists want successful predictions in order to confirm their theories; they do not want theories in order to obtain the predictions, which are in some cases of not the slightest interest in themselves.
Gist of Idea
Most predictions are uninteresting, and are only sought in order to confirm a theory
Source
Hilary Putnam (Philosophy of Logic [1971], Ch.8)
Book Ref
Putnam,Hilary: 'Philosophy of Logic' [Routledge 1972], p.72
A Reaction
Equally, we might only care about the prediction, and have no interest at all in the theory. Farmers want weather predictions, not a PhD in meteorology.