A good scientific theory should be explicable to a barmaid. Ernest Rutherford More Quotes by Ernest Rutherford More Quotes From Ernest Rutherford All of physics is either impossible or trivial. It is impossible until you understand it, and then it becomes trivial. Ernest Rutherford engineering understanding science Never say, "I tried it once and it did not work." Ernest Rutherford When we have found how the nucleus of atoms is built up we shall have found the greatest secret of all — except life. We shall have found the basis of everything — of the earth we walk on, of the air we breathe, of the sunshine, of our physical body itself, of everything in the world, however great or however small — except life. Ernest Rutherford sunshine secret air A theory that you can't explain to a bartender is probably no damn good. Ernest Rutherford bartender damn theory We haven't got the money, so we've got to think. Ernest Rutherford business science thinking If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment. Ernest Rutherford math science needs It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came back and hit you. Ernest Rutherford tissue-paper shells pieces Every good laboratory consists of first rate men working in great harmony to insure the progress of science; but down at the end of the hall is an unsociable, wrong-headed fellow working on unprofitable lines, and in his hands lies the hope of discovery. Ernest Rutherford discovery men lying Gentlemen, we have run out of money. It is time to start thinking. Ernest Rutherford gentleman running thinking All science is either physics or stamp collecting. Ernest Rutherford humorous witty science Now I know what the atom looks like. Ernest Rutherford atoms science looks The only possible conclusion the social sciences can draw is: some do, some don't. Ernest Rutherford humorous witty science The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine. Ernest Rutherford energy talking science I've just finished reading some of my early papers, and you know, when I'd finished I said to myself, 'Rutherford, my boy, you used to be a damned clever fellow.' (1911) Ernest Rutherford reading clever science I must confess it was very unexpected and I am very startled at my metamorphosis into a chemist. Ernest Rutherford chemist metamorphosis unexpected Gentlemen, now you will see that now you see nothing. And why you see nothing you will see presently. Ernest Rutherford gentleman science The more physics you have the less engineering you need. Ernest Rutherford engineering physics needs We are rather like children, who must take a watch to pieces to see how it works. Ernest Rutherford pieces watches children I am a great believer in the simplicity of things and as you probably know I am inclined to hang on to broad & simple ideas like grim death until evidence is too strong for my tenacity. Ernest Rutherford strong simple science I have to keep going, as there are always people on my track. I have to publish my present work as rapidly as possible in order to keep in the race. The best sprinters in this road of investigation are Becquerel and the Curies. Ernest Rutherford race order science
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