Max Planck

Quantum theory

Modern influential 129 sayings

Sayings by Max Planck

The development of a new idea is an act of creation.

Unknown — Unknown, widely attributed
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The scientist must be a dreamer and a realist at the same time.

Unknown — Unknown, widely attributed
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The history of science is a history of errors.

Unknown — Unknown, widely attributed
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The human mind is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.

Attributed — Often attributed humorously, likely not a serious scientific statement.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness.

1931 — Interview on the nature of reality
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force.

1944 — Lecture on the nature of physical reality
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

There is no matter as such! All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration.

1944 — Lecture in Florence
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul.

1948 — Scientific autobiography
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

It is not the possession of truth, but the success which attends the seeking after it, that enriches the seeker and brings happiness to him.

1932 — Where Is Science Going?
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

All great discoveries are made by men whose feelings run ahead of their thinking.

Unknown — Attributed, possibly from lectures
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

A scientist is happy, not in resting on his attainments but in the steady acquisition of fresh knowledge.

1948 — Scientific autobiography
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Science advances one funeral at a time.

Mid 20th century — Reflecting on the acceptance of new scientific theories.
Humorous Confirmed

No burden is so heavy for a man to bear as a succession of happy days.

Early 20th century — Philosophical observation on happiness.
Humorous Unverifiable

An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents: it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out, and that the growing generation is familiarised with the ideas from the beginning.

1949 — From 'Scientific Autobiography and Other Papers', reflecting on scientific progress.
Humorous Confirmed

Experiment is the only means of knowledge at our disposal. Everything else is poetry, imagination.

Early 20th century — Emphasizing empiricism in science.
Humorous Confirmed

When you change your opinion, you are not a weakling. You are a scientist.

Late 19th / Early 20th century — Attributed, often in discussions of scientific method.
Humorous Unverifiable

All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force… We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind. This Mind is the matrix of all matter.

1944 — From a speech in Florence, 1944, often cited in discussions of his philosophical views.
Humorous Unverifiable

The highest aim of physics is to find the one all-embracing law which governs all natural phenomena.

Early 20th century — From his writings on the goals of physics.
Humorous Unverifiable

A scientist is a man who tries to understand the world by experiment, and a philosopher is a man who tries to understand the world by thought.

Early 20th century — Attributed, distinguishing science and philosophy.
Humorous Unverifiable

Religion and natural science are fighting a joint battle in an incessant, never-ending crusade against skepticism and against dogmatism, against unbelief and against superstition, and as the motto for this crusade has always been, and always will be, 'On to God!'

1937 — From a lecture on 'Religion and Natural Science'.
Humorous Unverifiable