If there ever was a misnomer, it is "exact science." Science has always been full of mistakes. The present day is no exception. And our mistakes are good mistakes; they require a genius to correct. Of course, we do not see our own mistakes. Edward Teller More Quotes by Edward Teller More Quotes From Edward Teller I believe in good. It is an ephemeral and elusive quality. It is the center of my beliefs, but it cannot be strengthened by talking about it. Edward Teller quality talking believe I am guilty of the great crime of optimism. Edward Teller optimism guilty crime Secrecy, once accepted, becomes an addiction. Edward Teller secrecy accepted addiction The main purpose of science is simplicity and as we understand more things, everything is becoming simpler. Edward Teller simplicity purpose science U.S. has lost a battle more important and greater than Pearl Harbor. Edward Teller future battle important It is often claimed that knowledge multiplies so rapidly that nobody can follow it. I believe this is incorrect. At least in science it is not true. The main purpose of science is simplicity and as we understand more things, everything is becoming simpler. This, of course, goes contrary to what everyone accepts. Edward Teller acceptance believe knowledge I claim that relativity and the rest of modern physics is not complicated. It can be explained very simply. It is only unusual or, put another way, it is contrary to common sense. Edward Teller common-sense simple way Two paradoxes are better than one they may even suggest a solution. Edward Teller paradox may two If anyone wants a hole in the ground, nuclear explosives can make big holes Edward Teller nuclear holes want When you're certain you cannot be fooled, you become easy to fool. Edward Teller fool humor funny My experience has been in a short 77 years that in the end when you fight for a desperate cause and have good reasons to fight, you usually win. Edward Teller fighting courage winning A state-of-the-art calculation requires 100 hours of CPU time on the state-of-the-art computer, independent of the decade. Edward Teller computer independent art [Chemistry] laboratory work was my first challenge. ... I still carry the scars of my first discovery-that test-tubes are fragile. Edward Teller challenges discovery science In the history of physics, there have been three great revolutions in thought that first seemed absurd yet proved to be true. The first proposed that the earth, instead of being stationary, was moving around at a great and variable speed in a universe that is much bigger than it appears to our immediate perception. That proposal, I believe, was first made by Aristarchos two millenia ago ... Remarkably enough, the name Aristarchos in Greek means best beginning. Edward Teller mean believe moving I tried to contribute to the defeat of the Soviets. If I contributed 1%, it is 1% of something enormous. Edward Teller enormous defeat ifs Secrecy in science does not work. Withholding information does more damage to us than to our competitors. Edward Teller damage information doe Society's emissions of carbon dioxide may or may not turn out to have something significant to do with global warming-the jury is still out. Edward Teller global-warming significant may Knowing he [Bob Serber] was going to the [first atom bomb] test, I asked him how he planned to deal with the danger of rattlesnakes. He said, 'I'll take along a bottle of whiskey.' … I ended by asking, 'What would you do about those possibilities [of what unknown phenomena might cause a nuclear explosion to propagate in the atmosphere]?' Bob replied, 'Take a second bottle of whiskey.' Edward Teller atmosphere causes knowing Life improves slowly and goes wrong fast, and only catastrophe is clearly visible. Edward Teller catastrophe visible Really exotic methods of propulsion . . . will have to be devised to get there. How it will be done, I do not know. Whether it will be done, I am not quite certain. But I would bet it can be done. Edward Teller exotic future done
