We are losing the ability to understand anything that's even vaguely complex.
Chuck KlostermanTags: wisdom thought understanding complexity
Is the purpose of theoretical physics to be no more than a cataloging of all the things that can happen when particles interact with each other and separate? Or is it to be an understanding at a deeper level in which there are things that are not directly observable (as the underlying quantized fields are) but in terms of which we shall have a more fundamental understanding?
Julian SchwingerTags: science purpose understanding physics quantum-mechanics fundamentals nobel-laureate particle-physics theoretical-physics
To prove to an indignant questioner on the spur of the moment that the work I do was useful seemed a thankless task and I gave it up. I turned to him with a smile and finished, 'To tell you the truth we don't do it because it is useful but because it's amusing.' The answer was thought of and given in a moment: it came from deep down in my mind, and the results were as admirable from my point of view as unexpected. My audience was clearly on my side. Prolonged and hearty applause greeted my confession. My questioner retired shaking his head over my wickedness and the newspapers next day, with obvious approval, came out with headlines 'Scientist Does It Because It's Amusing!' And if that is not the best reason why a scientist should do his work, I want to know what is. Would it be any good to ask a mother what practical use her baby is? That, as I say, was the first evening I ever spent in the United States and from that moment I felt at home. I realised that all talk about science purely for its practical and wealth-producing results is as idle in this country as in England. Practical results will follow right enough. No real knowledge is sterile. The most useless investigation may prove to have the most startling practical importance: Wireless telegraphy might not yet have come if Clerk Maxwell had been drawn away from his obviously 'useless' equations to do something of more practical importance. Large branches of chemistry would have remained obscure had Willard Gibbs not spent his time at mathematical calculations which only about two men of his generation could understand. With this trust in the ultimate usefulness of all real knowledge a man may proceed to devote himself to a study of first causes without apology, and without hope of immediate return.
Archibald HillTags: science knowledge reason purpose understanding scientists discovery chemistry study amusing discoveries practical electromagnetism pragmatic applications practical-application james-clerk-maxwell james-maxwell willard-gibbs
Nothing can be more perfect in my world than the imperfection it must match.
Leot FeltonTags: truth self-discovery reflection understanding
When we have learnt to call storms, storms, and death, death, and birth, birth, when we have mastered the sailor's horn-book and Mr Piddington's law of cyclones, Ellis's anatomy and Lewer's midwifery, we have already made ourself half blind. We have become hypnotized by words and names. We think in words and names, not in ideas; the commonplace has triumphed, the true intellect is half crushed.
Henry de Vere StacpooleTags: understanding ideas names comprehension intellect the-blue-lagoon
To me, science is an expression of the human spirit, which reaches every sphere of human culture. It gives an aim and meaning to existence as well as a knowledge, understanding, love, and admiration for the world. It gives a deeper meaning to morality and another dimension to esthetics.
Isidor Isaac RabiTags: science love existence knowledge morality world humanity expression admiration understanding meaning culture aim nobel-laureate dimension esthetics
I have tried to read philosophers of all ages and have found many illuminating ideas but no steady progress toward deeper knowledge and understanding. Science, however, gives me the feeling of steady progress: I am convinced that theoretical physics is actual philosophy. It has revolutionized fundamental concepts, e.g., about space and time (relativity), about causality (quantum theory), and about substance and matter (atomistics), and it has taught us new methods of thinking (complementarity) which are applicable far beyond physics.
Max BornTags: science causality progress thinking knowledge philosophy time understanding ideas philosophers space physics atoms matter quantum-theory illuminating theoretical-physics revolution-relativity
Not by discussions nor by argument, but by lifting up Christ shall we draw men unto Him.
James Hudson TaylorTags: christianity understanding christ thoughts-for-the-quiet-hour
Maybe I'll understand today when tomorrow comes.
Kirn HansTags: understanding growth tomorrow
This is God's beauty!
The Elegant nature of Esther,
The Meek nature of Moses,
The Pius nature of Paul,
The Passionate nature of Peter,
The Just nature of Jesus and then
The wise nature of you!
Tags: wisdom knowledge passion natural beauty justice nature god understanding bible jesus elegance wise food-for-thought jesus-christ meekness christ beautiful paul you holy-bible peter just esther elegant passionate apostle-paul meek israelmore-ayivor god-s-beauty apostle-peter bible-quotation mosses pius
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