Edward Teller
end light know faith darkness unknown solid stand taught fly
“When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
engineers people life easy work dedicate progress
“Engineers are, by definition, people whose work is dedicated to making people's lives easier; or, as people used to say, whose work is dedicated to progress.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
simple statement fact guilty hypothesis effective
“A fact is a simple statement that everyone believes. It is innocent unless found guilty. A hypothesis is a novel suggestion that no one wants to believe. It is guilty until found effective.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
scientist responsible nature law human hydrogen atomic bomb
“The scientist is not responsible for the laws of nature. It is his job to find out how these laws operate. It is the scientist’s job to find the ways in which these laws can serve the human will. However, it is not the scientist’s job to determine whether a hydrogen bomb should be constructed, whether it should be used, or how it should be used. This responsibility rests with the American people and with their chosen representatives.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
two paradoxes better one suggest solution
“Two paradoxes are better than one they may even suggest a solution.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
today science tomorrow technology
“Today's science is tomorrow's technology.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
science logic simplicity nature mathematics human thought
“Science attempts to find logic and simplicity in nature. Mathematics attempts to establish order and simplicity in human thought.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
people avoid thinking addicted von Neumann enjoy
“Most people avoid thinking if they can, some of us are addicted to thinking, but Von Neumann actually enjoyed thinking, maybe even to the exclusion of everything else.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
poet physicist speak
“If to a poet a physicist may speak
Freely, as though we shared a common tongue,
For "peace in our time" I should hardly seek
By means that once proved wrong.
It seems the Muscovite
Has quite a healthy, growing appetite.
We can't be safe; at least we can be right.
Some bombs may help - perhaps a bomb-proof cellar,
But surely not the Chamberlain umbrella.
The atom is now big; the world is small.
Unfortunately, we have conquered space.
If war does come, it comes to all,
To every distant place.
Will people have the dash
That Britons had when their world seemed to crash
Before a small man with a small mustache?
You rhyme the atoms to amuse and charm us -
Your counsel should inspire, and not disarm us.
(Teller's reply to an anonymous British man's poem/message (that Americans are too belligerent), both in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists).”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
scientist responsible law nature hydrigen atomic bomb
“The scientist is not responsible for the laws of nature. It is his job to find out how these laws operate...Hydrogen bombs will not produce themselves.”
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
foolproof system defeat great fool
"There's no system foolproof enough to defeat a sufficiently great fool."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
believe evil despair fanaticism manifestation
"I believe in evil. It is the property of all those who are certain of truth. Despair and fanaticism are only differing manifestations of evil."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
extinction human inability emotionally understand exponential fu
"The extinction of the human race will come from its inability to EMOTIONALLY comprehend the exponential function."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
endeavor simple prospect right retrospect
"No endeavor that is worthwhile is simple in prospect; if it is right, it will be simple in retrospect."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
weapon dictatorship secrecy democracy openness
"The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy; the best weapon of a democracy is openness."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
hate doubt approach worthbelieve
"I hate doubt, yet I am certain that doubt is the only way to approach anything worth believing in."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
excellence basic need human soul diversity ambition talent
"I believe in excellence. It is a basic need of every human soul. All of us can be excellent, because, fortunately, we are exceedingly diverse in our ambitions and talents."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
contradictions deep effective understanding
"We must learn to live with contradictions, because they lead to deeper and more effective understanding."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
misnomer exact science mistake genius correct
"If there ever was a misnomer, it is "exact science." Science has always been full of mistakes. The present day is no exception. And our mistakes are good mistakes; they require a genius to correct. Of course, we do not see our own mistakes."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
purpose science simplicity understand simpler
"The main purpose of science is simplicity and as we understand more things, everything is becoming simpler."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
state-of-the-art calculation 100 hours CPU computer decade
"A state-of-the-art calculation requires 100 hours of CPU time on the state-of-the-art computer, independent of the decade."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
hole ground nuclear explosive
"If anyone wants a hole in the ground, nuclear explosives can make big holes"
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)
physics physicist simple
"Physics is, hopefully, simple. Physicists are not."
― Edward Teller (1908-2003)