Observation, reason, and experiment make up what we call the scientific method. Richard P. Feynman More Quotes by Richard P. Feynman More Quotes From Richard P. Feynman Another thing I must point out is that you cannot prove a vague theory wrong. Richard P. Feynman vagueprovetheory So I have just one wish for you – the good luck to be somewhere where you are free to maintain the kind of integrity I have described, and where you do not feel forced by a need to maintain your position in the organization, or financial support, or so on, to lose your integrity. May you have that freedom. Richard P. Feynman good-luckorganizationintegrity It appears that there are enormous differences of opinion as to the probability of a failure with loss of vehicle and of human life. The estimates range from roughly 1 in 100 to 1 in 100,000. The higher figures come from the working engineers, and the very low figures from management. Richard P. Feynman safetydifferencesloss It's amazing how many people even today use a computer to do something you can do with a pencil and paper in less time. Richard P. Feynman simplicityusepeople If an apple was magnified to the size of the Earth, then the atoms in the apple would be approximately the size of the original apple. Richard P. Feynman atomsappleswould-be Mathematics is not just a language. Mathematics is a language plus reasoning. Richard P. Feynman plusmathematicslanguage Science is like sex: sometimes something useful comes out, but that is not the reason we are doing it Richard P. Feynman inspirationalfunnysex Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Richard P. Feynman things-you-likewantwork It is the facts that matter, not the proofs. Physics can progress without the proofs, but we can't go on without the facts ... if the facts are right, then the proofs are a matter of playing around with the algebra correctly. Richard P. Feynman progressgoes-onscience Know how to solve every problem that has been solved. Richard P. Feynman solveknow-howproblem Of course, you only live one life, and you make all your mistakes, and learn what not to do, and that's the end of you. Richard P. Feynman coursesendsmistake We have been led to imagine all sorts of things infinitely more marvelous than the imagining of poets and dreamers of the past. It shows that the imagination of nature is far, far greater than the imagination of man. For instance, how much more remarkable it is for us all to be stuck-half of us upside down-by a mysterious attraction, to a spinning ball that has been swinging in space for billions of years, than to be carried on the back of an elephant supported on a tortoise swimming in a bottomless sea. Richard P. Feynman swimmingmenpast Scientific knowledge is a body of statements of varying degrees of certainty -- some most unsure, some nearly sure, none absolutely certain. Richard P. Feynman absolute-certaintydegreesbody The real question of government versus private enterprise is argued on too philosophical and abstract a basis. Theoretically, planning may be good. But nobody has ever figured out the cause of government stupidity—and until they do (and find the cure), all ideal plans will fall into quicksand. Richard P. Feynman philosophicalrealfall I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there. Richard P. Feynman changeeducationinspirational It is our responsibility as scientists, knowing the great progress which comes from a satisfactory philosophy of ignorance, the great progress which is the fruit of freedom of thought, to proclaim the value of this freedom; to teach how doubt is not to be feared but welcomed and discussed; and to demand this freedom as our duty to all coming generations. Richard P. Feynman freedomresponsibilityphilosophy We never are definitely right, we can only be sure we are wrong. Richard P. Feynman John von Neumann gave me an interesting idea: that you don't have to be responsible for the world that you're in. So I have developed a very powerful sense of social irresponsibility as a result of von Neumann's advice. It's made me a very happy man ever since. But it was von Neumann who put the seed in that grew into my active irresponsibility! Richard P. Feynman powerfulmenideas Our poets do not write about it; our artists do not try to portray this remarkable thing. I don't know why. Is nobody inspired by our present picture of the universe? The value of science remains unsung by singers... This is not yet a scientific age. Richard P. Feynman artistagewriting We absolutely must leave room for doubt or there is no progress and there is no learning. There is no learning without having to pose a question. And a question requires doubt. People search for certainty. But there is no certainty. People are terrified — how can you live and not know? It is not odd at all. You only think you know, as a matter of fact. And most of your actions are based on incomplete knowledge and you really don’t know what it is all about, or what the purpose of the world is, or know a great deal of other things. It is possible to live and not know. Richard P. Feynman incomplete-knowledgepeoplethinking
