Quotes by Scientist | Beyond Motive 44/113

top of page

Quotes by Scientist

"For example, some stars put out large amounts of energy in the infrared part of the spectrum, so that this can produce a different relative magnitude rating than using light energy from the middle of the spectrum."

"For example, some stars put out large amounts of energy in the infrared part of the spectrum, so that this can produce a different relative magnitude rating than using light energy from the middle of the spectrum."

Charles Francis Richter, American Scientist

Energy, Example, Light, Stars

41

"Aching all over, we reached level ground again, and Mr. Christy withdrew his claims, and agreed that no road anywhere else could possibly be so bad as a Mexican road; a decision which later experiences only served to confirm."

"Aching all over, we reached level ground again, and Mr. Christy withdrew his claims, and agreed that no road anywhere else could possibly be so bad as a Mexican road; a decision which later experiences only served to confirm."

Edward Burnett Tylor, English Scientist

41

"I am turned into a sort of machine for observing facts and grinding out conclusions."

"I am turned into a sort of machine for observing facts and grinding out conclusions."

Charles Darwin, English Scientist

Fact, Facts, Machine

41

"If you want to accomplish something in the world, idealism is not enough - you need to choose a method that works to achieve the goal."

"If you want to accomplish something in the world, idealism is not enough - you need to choose a method that works to achieve the goal."

Richard Stallman, American Scientist

Goal, Idealism, Want, World

41

"For one country is different from another; its earth is different, as are its stones, wines, bread, meat, and everything that grows and thrives in a specific region."

"For one country is different from another; its earth is different, as are its stones, wines, bread, meat, and everything that grows and thrives in a specific region."

Paracelsus, Swiss Scientist

41

"In science, "fact" can only mean "confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent." I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms."

"In science, "fact" can only mean "confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent." I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms."

Stephen Jay Gould, American Scientist

Time, Science, Possibility, Apples

41

"The whole idea that what is not normal should be kept secret - that's really distasteful to me."

"The whole idea that what is not normal should be kept secret - that's really distasteful to me."

Dan Farmer, American Scientist

41

"There are very few men and women in whom a Universalist feeling is altogether lacking; its prevalence suggests that it must be part of our inborn nature and have a place in Nature's scheme of evolution."

"There are very few men and women in whom a Universalist feeling is altogether lacking; its prevalence suggests that it must be part of our inborn nature and have a place in Nature's scheme of evolution."

Arthur Keith, Scottish Scientist

Men, Nature, Women, Evolution

41

"A total nuclear freeze is counterproductive - especially now, when technology is rapidly changing and the Soviets have some important strategic advantages."

"A total nuclear freeze is counterproductive - especially now, when technology is rapidly changing and the Soviets have some important strategic advantages."

Herman Kahn, American Scientist

Technology, Now

41

"There are two ways to slice easily thorugh life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking."

"There are two ways to slice easily thorugh life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking."

Alfred Korzybski, Polish Scientist

Life, Doubt, Thinking

41

"Among the southern tribes, on the contrary, hats were sometimes worn in the dance, although this was not considered in strict accordance with the doctrine."

"Among the southern tribes, on the contrary, hats were sometimes worn in the dance, although this was not considered in strict accordance with the doctrine."

James Mooney, American Scientist

Dance, Doctrine

41

"When immortality becomes for us no longer a matter of academic discussion, but the most vital of all questions; we shall find our comfort where so many before us have found it, in the ancient words."

"When immortality becomes for us no longer a matter of academic discussion, but the most vital of all questions; we shall find our comfort where so many before us have found it, in the ancient words."

Henry Norris Russell, American Scientist

Comfort, Immortality, Questions, Words

41

"All War Departments are now Defense Departments. This is all part of the doubletalk of our time. The aggressor is always on the other side."

"All War Departments are now Defense Departments. This is all part of the doubletalk of our time. The aggressor is always on the other side."

George Wald, American Scientist

War, Time, Defense, Now

41

"Although all the good arts serve to draw man's mind away from vices and lead it toward better things, this function can be more fully performed by this art, which also provides extraordinary intellectual pleasure."

"Although all the good arts serve to draw man's mind away from vices and lead it toward better things, this function can be more fully performed by this art, which also provides extraordinary intellectual pleasure."

Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish Scientist

Art, Man, Mind, Pleasure

41

"We were astonished by the beauty and refinement of the art displayed by the objects surpassing all we could have imagined - the impression was overwhelming."

"We were astonished by the beauty and refinement of the art displayed by the objects surpassing all we could have imagined - the impression was overwhelming."

Howard Carter, English Scientist

Art, Beauty, Impression

41

"I am sure it must be true that people opt out of the mainstream society because they feel that there are going to be no rewards for them, if they stay."

"I am sure it must be true that people opt out of the mainstream society because they feel that there are going to be no rewards for them, if they stay."

Mary Douglas, British Scientist

Society, People

41

"Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply."

"Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply."

Norman Borlaug, American Scientist

Food, Civilization, Today

41

"The most efficient way to live reasonably is every morning to make a plan of one's day and every night to examine the results obtained."

"The most efficient way to live reasonably is every morning to make a plan of one's day and every night to examine the results obtained."

Alexis Carrel, French Scientist

Day, Night, Results

41

"Clearly, programming courses should teach methods of design and construction, and the selected examples should be such that a gradual development can be nicely demonstrated."

"Clearly, programming courses should teach methods of design and construction, and the selected examples should be such that a gradual development can be nicely demonstrated."

Niklaus Wirth, Swiss Scientist

Design, Development, Programming

41

"A new release of Plan 9 happened in June, and at about the same time a new release of the Inferno system, which began here, was announced by Vita Nuova."

"A new release of Plan 9 happened in June, and at about the same time a new release of the Inferno system, which began here, was announced by Vita Nuova."

Dennis Ritchie, American Scientist

41

"But I do think the survey group - and I think Charlie Duelfer is a great leader. I have the utmost confidence in Charles. I think you will get as full an answer as you can possibly get."

"But I do think the survey group - and I think Charlie Duelfer is a great leader. I have the utmost confidence in Charles. I think you will get as full an answer as you can possibly get."

David Kay, American Scientist

Leader, Confidence, Will

41

"There are certain moments when we might wish the future were built by men of the past."

"There are certain moments when we might wish the future were built by men of the past."

Jean Rostand, French Scientist

Men, Future, Moments, Past

41

"Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought."

"Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought."

Albert Szent Gyorgyi, Hungarian Scientist

Thought, Discovery, Thinking

41

"I heard that the same thing occurred in a scene in Alien, where the creature pops out of the chest of a crewman. The other actors didn't know what was to happen; the director wanted to get true surprise."

"I heard that the same thing occurred in a scene in Alien, where the creature pops out of the chest of a crewman. The other actors didn't know what was to happen; the director wanted to get true surprise."

Marvin Minsky, American Scientist

41

"Because of new technologies, new wealth, new conditions of domestic life and of international relations, unprecedented criteria and issues are coming up for national decision."

"Because of new technologies, new wealth, new conditions of domestic life and of international relations, unprecedented criteria and issues are coming up for national decision."

Herman Kahn, American Scientist

Life, Decision, Wealth

41

"By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox."

"By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox."

Galileo Galilei, Italian Scientist

May, Paradox, Principles

41

"There aren't just bad people that commit genocide; we are all capable of it. It's our evolutionary history."

"There aren't just bad people that commit genocide; we are all capable of it. It's our evolutionary history."

James Lovelock, English Scientist

History, People, Genocide

41

"There is tragic evidence to show that the paintings at the French prehistoric art sites are deteriorating."

"There is tragic evidence to show that the paintings at the French prehistoric art sites are deteriorating."

Louis Leakey, British Scientist

41

"Free imagination is the inestimable prerogative of youth and it must be cherished and guarded as a treasure."

"Free imagination is the inestimable prerogative of youth and it must be cherished and guarded as a treasure."

Felix Bloch, Swiss Scientist

Imagination, Treasure, Youth

41

"Every theory presented as a scientific concept is just that; it's a theory that tries to explain more about the world than previous theories have done. It is open to being challenged and to being proven incorrect."

"Every theory presented as a scientific concept is just that; it's a theory that tries to explain more about the world than previous theories have done. It is open to being challenged and to being proven incorrect."

Marvin Harris, American Scientist

Being, Open, Theories, Theory

41

"Because of the Turing completeness theory, everything one Turing-complete language can do can theoretically be done by another Turing-complete language, but at a different cost. You can do everything in assembler, but no one wants to program in assembler anymore."

"Because of the Turing completeness theory, everything one Turing-complete language can do can theoretically be done by another Turing-complete language, but at a different cost. You can do everything in assembler, but no one wants to program in assembler anymore."

Yukihiro Matsumoto, Japanese Scientist

Language, Theory

41

"A review was published in Nature, very scathing, essentially calling me incompetent, though they didn't use that word. I am putting a reply on my Web site in a few days, where I go through their arguments, paragraph by paragraph."

"A review was published in Nature, very scathing, essentially calling me incompetent, though they didn't use that word. I am putting a reply on my Web site in a few days, where I go through their arguments, paragraph by paragraph."

Bjorn Lomborg, Danish Scientist

Nature, Arguments, Word

41

"When I talk to the camera, mate, it's not like I'm talking to the camera, I'm talking to you because I want to whip you around and plunk you right there with me."

"When I talk to the camera, mate, it's not like I'm talking to the camera, I'm talking to you because I want to whip you around and plunk you right there with me."

Steve Irwin, Australian Scientist

Right, Talk, Talking, Want

41

"Is it philosophical, is it quite allowable, to assume without evidence from fossil plants that the family or any of the genera was once larger and wide spread? and occupied a continuous area?"

"Is it philosophical, is it quite allowable, to assume without evidence from fossil plants that the family or any of the genera was once larger and wide spread? and occupied a continuous area?"

Asa Gray, American Scientist

41

"Many societies have educated their male children on the simple device of teaching them not to be women."

"Many societies have educated their male children on the simple device of teaching them not to be women."

Margaret Mead, American Scientist

Woman, Women, Children, Teaching

41

"Hunger and sex still dominate the primitive mammalian side of human existence, but at the present time it looks as if humanity were within sight of their satisfaction. Permanent plenty, no longer a Utopian dream, awaits the arrival of permanent peace."

"Hunger and sex still dominate the primitive mammalian side of human existence, but at the present time it looks as if humanity were within sight of their satisfaction. Permanent plenty, no longer a Utopian dream, awaits the arrival of permanent peace."

John Desmond Bernal, Irish Scientist

Peace, Time, Sex, Dream

41

"Let age, not envy, draw wrinkles on thy cheeks."

"Let age, not envy, draw wrinkles on thy cheeks."

Thomas Browne, British Scientist

41

"This simple idea served to provide information on the geometrical shape of reacting molecules, and I was able to make the role of the frontier orbitals in chemical reactions more distinct through visualization, by drawing their diagrams."

"This simple idea served to provide information on the geometrical shape of reacting molecules, and I was able to make the role of the frontier orbitals in chemical reactions more distinct through visualization, by drawing their diagrams."

Kenichi Fukui, Japanese Scientist

Idea, Information, Visualization

41

"I protest that if some great Power would agree to make me always think what is true and do what is right, on condition of being turned into a sort of clock and would up every morning before I got out of bed, I should instantly close with the offer."

"I protest that if some great Power would agree to make me always think what is true and do what is right, on condition of being turned into a sort of clock and would up every morning before I got out of bed, I should instantly close with the offer."

Thomas Huxley, English Scientist

Power, Bed, Being, Protest

41

"I'm a geophysicist and all my earth science books when I was a student, I had to give the wrong answer to get an A. We used to ridicule continental drift. It was something we laughed at. We learned of Marshall Kay's geosynclinal cycle, which is a bunch of crap."

"I'm a geophysicist and all my earth science books when I was a student, I had to give the wrong answer to get an A. We used to ridicule continental drift. It was something we laughed at. We learned of Marshall Kay's geosynclinal cycle, which is a bunch of crap."

Robert Ballard, American Scientist

Science, Books, Earth, Ridicule

41

"For in 1900 all electromagnetic radiation of longer wavelengths was already known at least to the extent that one could not seek in it the more striking characteristics of X-rays such as, for example, the strong penetrating power."

"For in 1900 all electromagnetic radiation of longer wavelengths was already known at least to the extent that one could not seek in it the more striking characteristics of X-rays such as, for example, the strong penetrating power."

Max von Laue, German Scientist

41

"No inanimate object is ever fully determined by the laws of physics and chemistry."

"No inanimate object is ever fully determined by the laws of physics and chemistry."

Michael Polanyi, Hungarian Scientist

Law, Laws, Physics

41

"The greatest object in educating is to give a right habit of study."

"The greatest object in educating is to give a right habit of study."

Maria Mitchell, American Scientist

Habit, Right, Study

41

"So one begins to wonder what is going to happen to the human race. Technology keeps on advancing with greater and greater power, either for good or for destruction."

"So one begins to wonder what is going to happen to the human race. Technology keeps on advancing with greater and greater power, either for good or for destruction."

David Bohm, American Scientist

Technology, Power, Destruction, Race

41

"There are moments when very little truth would be enough to shape opinion. One might be hated at extremely low cost."

"There are moments when very little truth would be enough to shape opinion. One might be hated at extremely low cost."

Jean Rostand, French Scientist

Truth, Moments, Opinion

41

"It is one of the more striking generalizations of biochemistry - which surprisingly is hardly ever mentioned in the biochemical textbooks - that the twenty amino acids and the four bases, are, with minor reservations, the same throughout Nature."

"It is one of the more striking generalizations of biochemistry - which surprisingly is hardly ever mentioned in the biochemical textbooks - that the twenty amino acids and the four bases, are, with minor reservations, the same throughout Nature."

Francis Crick, English Scientist

41

"I have a lot of memories of Falls Church. I went to grade school in Madison Elementary School."

"I have a lot of memories of Falls Church. I went to grade school in Madison Elementary School."

Jim Fowler, American Scientist

Church, Memories, School

41

"Nevertheless, as is a frequent occurrence in science, a general hypothesis was constructed from a few specific instances of a phenomenon."

"Nevertheless, as is a frequent occurrence in science, a general hypothesis was constructed from a few specific instances of a phenomenon."

Sidney Altman, Canadian Scientist

41

"So maybe I can go back to being a Gardeners' World addict again."

"So maybe I can go back to being a Gardeners' World addict again."

Ken Thompson, American Scientist

41

"I think you know that I classify science as British science, American science, and everybody else."

"I think you know that I classify science as British science, American science, and everybody else."

Martin Fleischmann, English Scientist

Science, American

41

bottom of page