When you see something that is technically sweet you go ahead and do it. J. Robert Oppenheimer More Quotes by J. Robert Oppenheimer More Quotes From J. Robert Oppenheimer In a free world, if it is to remain free, we must maintain, with our lives if need be, but surely by our lives, the opportunity for a man to learn anything J. Robert Oppenheimer opportunity men needs When you see something that is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it and you argue about what to do about it only after you have had your technical success. That is the way it was with the atomic bomb. J. Robert Oppenheimer bombs sweet history Bertrand Russell had given a talk on the then new quantum mechanics, of whose wonders he was most appreciative. He spoke hard and earnestly in the New Lecture Hall. And when he was done, Professor Whitehead, who presided, thanked him for his efforts, and not least for 'leaving the vast darkness of the subject unobscured'. J. Robert Oppenheimer effort leaving appreciation We hunger for nobility: the rare words and acts that harmonize simplicity and truth. J. Robert Oppenheimer nobility hunger simplicity Today, it is not only that our kings do not know mathematics, but our philosophers do not know mathematics and - to go a step further - our mathematicians do not know mathematics. J. Robert Oppenheimer kings math today There is something irreversible about acquiring knowledge; and the simulation of the search for it differs in a most profound way from the reality. J. Robert Oppenheimer science reality knowledge I need physics more than friends. J. Robert Oppenheimer more-than-friends physics needs Maybe General Groves was right. Maybe we should just banish thinking forever. J. Robert Oppenheimer grove forever thinking The powerful notion of entropy, which comes from a very special branch of physics … is certainly useful in the study of communication and quite helpful when applied in the theory of language. J. Robert Oppenheimer communication powerful special Taken as a story of human achievement, and human blindness, the discoveries in the sciences are among the great epics. J. Robert Oppenheimer epic taken discovery If we must live with a perpetual sense that the world and the men in it are greater than we and too much for us, let it be the measure of our virtue that we know this and seek no comfort. J. Robert Oppenheimer comfort men world Submit an agreement providing for the peaceful absorbtion of a celestial races in such a manner that our culture would remain intact with guarantee that their presence not be revealed." "One must consider the fact that mis-identification of these space craft for a intercontinental missile in a re-entry phase of flight could lead to accidental nuclear war with horrible consequences. J. Robert Oppenheimer race agreement war Both the man of science and the man of action live always at the edge of mystery, surrounded by it. J. Robert Oppenheimer mystery action men Things which stimulate my curiosity are pretty far removed from the practical and therefore from classification. J. Robert Oppenheimer classification practicals curiosity To the confusion of our enemies. J. Robert Oppenheimer confusion enemy Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search. J. Robert Oppenheimer innovation discovery long All history teaches us that these questions that we think the pressing ones will be transmuted before they are answered, that they will be replaced by others, and that the very process of discovery will shatter the concepts that we today use to describe our puzzlement. J. Robert Oppenheimer progress discovery thinking The theory of our modern technic shows that nothing is as practical as theory. J. Robert Oppenheimer modern science history The best way to send information is to wrap it up in a person. J. Robert Oppenheimer information writing way I can't think that it would be terrible of me to say - and it is occasionally true - that I need physics more than friends. J. Robert Oppenheimer would-be needs thinking