Famous quotes
Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,808 quotes Who coined it · How we decide
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“Some," answered Imlac, "have indeed said that the soul is material, but I can scarcely believe that any man has thought it, who knew how to think; for all the conclusions of reason enforce the immateriality of mind, and all the notices of sense and investigations of science, concur to prove the unconsciousness of matter.”
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) said by 1784 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I can’t be as confident about computer science as I can about biology. Biology easily has 500 years of exciting problems to work on. It’s at that level.”
Donald Knuth (born 1938) first seen 1993 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Computer Literacy Bookshops Interview Computer Literacy Bookshops Interview (1993)
“Science is what we understand well enough to explain to a computer. Art is everything else we do.”
Donald Knuth (born 1938) first seen 1996 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Foreword to the book A=B (1996)
“Trees sprout up just about everywhere in computer science...”
Donald Knuth (born 1938) first seen 2011 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Vol. IV - A, Combinatorial Algorithms, Section 4.2.1.6 (2011)
“Science is knowledge which we understand so well that we can teach it to a computer; and if we don't fully understand something, it is an art to deal with it.”
Donald Knuth (born 1938) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In this sense, we should continually be striving to transform every art into a science: in the process, we advance the art.”
Donald Knuth (born 1938) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As economics is known as "The Miserable Science", software engineering should be known as "The Doomed Discipline", doomed because it cannot even approach its goal since its goal is self-contradictory. (...) Software engineering has accepted as its charter "How to program if you cannot.”
Edsger W. Dijkstra (1930–2002) first seen 1988 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Dijkstra (1988) "On the cruelty of really teaching computing science (EWD1036).
“If you refuse to study anatomy, the arts of drawing and perspective, the mathematics of aesthetics, and the science of color, let me tell you that this is more a sign of laziness than of genius.”
Salvador Dalí (1904–1989) said by 1989 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“To some extent we are all the prisoners of stereotypes; we see each other in terms of distorted and oversimplified images. Better communication in the realm of ideas, of the arts, and of science can help refashion these false images. And by seeing more clearly we may act more wisely.”
Chester Bowles (1901–1986) said by 1986 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Church has been reproached with endeavouring to appropriate to itself all those professorships in our Universities which are connected with science: it is however certain that the larger portion of these ill-remunerated offices have been filled by clergymen.”
Charles Babbage (1791–1871) said by 1871 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As soon as an Analytical Engine exists, it will necessarily guide the future course of the science. Whenever any result is sought by its aid, the question will then arise — by what course of calculation can these results be arrived at by the machine in the shortest time?”
Charles Babbage (1791–1871) first seen 1864 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Passages from the Life of a Philosopher (1864), ch. 8 "Of the Analytical Engine
“I seek through comprehensive anticipatory design science and its reductions to physical practices to reform the environment instead of trying to reform humans, being intent thereby to accomplish prototyped capabilities of doing more with less...”
Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) first seen 1973 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Earth, Inc. (1973) This is just part of a very long sentence that covers the whole first page, but in this part of the quote, the intention of the entire book is stated.
“Science... the ways it does its calculating that approximately nobody going in at a basic level can gain any sense of the whole.”
Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) said by 1983 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Without Art, we should have no notion of the sacred; without Science, we should always worship false gods.”
W. H. Auden (1907–1973) said by 1973 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Healing," Papa would tell me, "is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing Nature.”
W. H. Auden (1907–1973) said by 1973 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Science may be described as the art of systematic over-simplification — the art of discerning what we may with advantage omit.”
Karl Popper (1902–1994) first seen 1992 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Open Universe : An Argument for Indeterminism (1992), p. 44
“...non-reproducible single occurrences are of no significance to science.”
Karl Popper (1902–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I believe that the advance of science depends upon the free competition of thought, and thus upon freedom, and that it must come to an end if freedom is destroyed (though it may well continue for some time in some fields, especially in technology).”
Karl Popper (1902–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths.”
Karl Popper (1902–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Diversity makes critical argument fruitful. ...[P]artners in an argument must share ...the wish to know, and the readiness to learn from the other ...by severely criticizing his views... and hearing... [the] reply. ...the so-called method of science consists in this kind of criticism.”
Karl Popper (1902–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The doctrine that there is as much science in a subject as... mathematics in it, or as much... measurement or 'precision' in it, rests upon... misunderstanding.”
Karl Popper (1902–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I disbelieve in specialization and... experts. ...[P]aying too much respect to the specialist ...[is] destroying the commonwealth of learning, the rationalist tradition, and science ...”
Karl Popper (1902–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I made it very clear to the Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayers' money to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is — I'm against that. And therefore, if the bill does that, I will veto it. (emphasis added) AP, 21 May 2005”
George W. Bush (born 1946) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware, the non-existence of Zeus or Thor — but they have few followers now.”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) first seen 1953 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Childhood's End (1953), p. 15
“As our own species is in the process of proving, one cannot have superior science and inferior morals. The combination is unstable and self-destroying.”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Voices from the Sky : Previews of the Coming Space Age (1967)
“Clarke's Law of Revolutionary Ideas: Every revolutionary idea — in science, politics, art, or whatever — seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases:(1) "It's completely impossible — don't waste my time"; (2) "It's possible, but it's not worth doing"; (3) "I said it was a good idea all along.”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Promise of Space (1968); This and similar statements attributed to Mahatma Gandhi and J. B. S. Haldane may ultimately be derived from a statement attributed to Arthur Schopenhauer:
“The search for alien artefacts in the Solar System should be a perfectly legitimate branch of science ('exoarchaeology'?). Unfortunately, it has been largely discredited by claims that such evidence has already been found - and has been deliberately suppressed by NASA! p. 97, Acknowledgements”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Science demands patience.”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Like the atom bomb, it arose out of equally academic research. Never, gentlemen, underestimate science. I doubt if there is a single field of study so theoretical, so remote from what is laughingly called everyday life, that it may not one day produce something that will shake the world.”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I'm sometimes asked how I would like to be remembered. I've had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer, space promoter and science populariser. Of all these, I want to be remembered most as a writer — one who entertained readers, and, hopefully, stretched their imagination as well.”
Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) said by 2008 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is the nature of science that answers automatically pose new and more subtle questions.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1960 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Wellsprings of Life (1960), p. 141
“Indeed, it may well be argued that one reason for the decline in science, art, and literature was the increasing absorption of the better minds into a new sort of intellectual pursuit – theology.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1967 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Roman Empire (1967), p. 118
“Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1975 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: How Easy to See the Future", Natural History magazine (April 1975);
“The history of science is full of revolutionary advances that required small insights that anyone might have had, but that, in fact, only one person did.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1974 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Three Numbers" in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (September 1974); reprinted in More Tales of the Black Widowers (1976)
“It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be ... This, in turn, means that our statesmen, our businessmen, our everyman must take on a science fictional way of thinking.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1978 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: My Own View" in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (1978) edited by Robert Holdstock; later published in Asimov on Science Fiction (1981)
“There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance only implies ignorance that may someday be conquered. To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1981 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The “Threat” of Creationism" in New York Times Magazine (14 June 1981)
“There is no version of primeval history, preceding the discoveries of modern science, that is as rational and as inspiring as that of the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1981 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: In the Beginning (1981), introduction, p. 3
“Science fiction offers its writers chances of embarrassment that no other form of fiction does.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1986 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Robot Dreams (1986), introduction
“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!', but 'That's funny ...'”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1988 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Isaac Asimov's Book of Science and Nature Quotations (1988), edited with Jason A. Shulman, p. 281
“The job of science will never be done, it will just sink deeper and deeper into never-ending complexity.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) first seen 1989 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Secrets of the Universe" (1989) (essay reprinted in The Secret of the Universe (1992), p. 168)
“Nonsense. You are a military man and should know better. If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is that of military technology. No potential weapon would remain unrealized for ten thousand years.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For it is the chief characteristic of the religion of science, that it works, and that such curses as that of Aporat's are really deadly.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Asimov: I don't know of any science fiction writer who really attempts to be a prophet. Such authors accomplish their tasks not by being correct in their predictions, necessarily, but merely by hammering home—in story after story—the notion that life is going to be different.”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Plowboy: You truly feel that all the major changes in history have been caused by science and technology?”
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) said by 1992 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Science rushes headlong, without selectivity, without “taste,” at whatever is knowable, in the blind desire to know all at any cost. Philosophical thinking, on the other hand, is ever on the scent of those things which are most worth knowing, the great and the important insights.”
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) said by 1900 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks (posthumous), as translated by Marianne Cowan (1962), p. 43
“It's a new day For the faceless, Take the torches From the useless, First amendment, Second guesses, All dependent, I'll do anything to help youFallen crosses, New alliance, Deeper thinkers, Modern science, Open guest list, All inclusive, No one loses, Everything you've always wanted”
Ozzy Osbourne (1948–2025) said by 2025 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am quite convinced; and, believe me, if I were again beginning my studies, I should follow the advice of Plato and start with mathematics, a science which proceeds very cautiously and admits nothing as established until it has been rigidly demonstrated.”
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) said by 1642 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Jupiter is a gigantic world, much bigger than the Earth.” Dodger stared. “Do you mean that Jupiter is a world with people living on it?” “Mmm, I believe astronomical science is uncertain on that point mmm, but I assume there must be, because otherwise what would be the purpose of it?”
Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) said by 2015 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Whatever is known to us by consciousness, is known beyond possibility of question. What one sees or feels, whether bodily or mentally, one cannot but be sure that one sees or feels. No science is required for the purpose of establishing such truths; no rules of art can render our knowledge of them more certain than it is in itself. There is no logic for this portion of our knowledge.”
John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) said by 1873 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source