Charles Francis Richter

fool liar charlatan predict earthquake

"Only fools, liars, and charlatans predict earthquakes"

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)

predictable active scientific field

"Nothing is less predictable than the development of an active scientific field."

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)

luck logarithmic plot devil

"I was lucky because logarithmic plots are a device of the devil."

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)

spring young man

"Spring makes everything young again except man."

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)

energy earthquake theoretically derived quantity theory

"If one introduces the concept of energy of an earthquake then that is a theoretically derived quantity."

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)

seismologist earthquake peak acceleration frequency vibration

"As seismologists gained more experience from earthquake records, it became obvious that the problem could not be reduced to a single peak acceleration. In fact, a full frequency of vibrations occurs."

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)

remembrance paradise

"Remembrance is the only paradise out of which we cannot be driven away."

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)

democritus truth well mirror philosopher image

"According to Democritus, truth lies at the bottom of a well, the water of which serves as a mirror in which objects may be reflected. I have heard, however, that some philosophers, in seeking for truth, to pay homage to her, have seen their own image and adored it instead."

— Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985)