Quotes to inspire and reflect

Einstein was a giant. His head was in the clouds, but his feet were on the ground. Those of us who are not so tall have to choose.

But the real glory of science is that we can find a way of thinking such that the law is evident.

Astronomy is older than physics. In fact, it got physics started by showing the beautiful simplicity of the motion of the stars and planets, the understanding of which was the beginning of physics. But the most remarkable discovery in all of astronomy is that the stars are made of atoms of the same kind as those on the earth.

As usual, nature's imagination far surpasses our own, as we have seen from the other theories which are subtle and deep.

Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry.

I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.

There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers.

Philosophy of science is about as useful to scientists as ornithology is to birds.

All the time you're saying to yourself, 'I could do that, but I won't,' — which is just another way of saying that you can't.

If you thought that science was certain - well, that is just an error on your part.

I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong.

Physics isn't the most important thing. Love is.

Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt.

The highest forms of understanding we can achieve are laughter and human compassion.

I... a universe of atoms, an atom in the universe.

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.

I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.

You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish. I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be. It's their mistake, not my failing.

Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.

Study hard what interests you the most in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible.

True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.

Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough.

The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.

All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.

Most people say that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character.

Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.

Without deep reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people.

You ask me if I keep a notebook to record my great ideas. I've only ever had one.

There could be no fairer destiny for any physical theory than that it should point the way to a more comprehensive theory in which it lives on as a limiting case.

The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.

Human beings must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.

It should be possible to explain the laws of physics to a barmaid.

It was the experience of mystery - even if mixed with fear - that engendered religion.

Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves.

I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards.

One strength of the communist system of the East is that it has some of the character of a religion and inspires the emotions of a religion.

The devil has put a penalty on all things we enjoy in life. Either we suffer in health or we suffer in soul or we get fat.

Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.

The environment is everything that isn't me.

We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.

It gives me great pleasure indeed to see the stubbornness of an incorrigible nonconformist warmly acclaimed.

It is only to the individual that a soul is given.

My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.

There comes a time when the mind takes a higher plane of knowledge but can never prove how it got there.

If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.

The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.

We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.