Frank Wilczek

mistake work hard problem

“If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems. And that's a mistake.”

― Frank Wilczek

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“In physics, you don't have to go around making trouble for yourself - nature does it for you.”

― Frank Wilczek

obsession hallmark nature artistic style symmetry economy

“Two obsessions are the hallmarks of Nature's artistic style:

Symmetry- a love of harmony, balance, and proportion

Economy- satisfaction in producing an abundance of effects from very limited means”

― Frank Wilczek

Transient and Eternal world flux concept number

“Transient and Eternal

The state of the world is in flux, and every object within it is subject to change.

Concepts live outside of time and, because All Things Are Number, liberate us from it.”

― Frank Wilczek

answer something nothing unstable

“The answer to the ancient question 'Why is there something rather than nothing?' would then be that ‘nothing’ is unstable.”

― Frank Wilczek

bohr truth opposite profound falsehood paradox

“The legendary Danish physicist Niels Bohr distinguished two kinds of truths. An ordinary truth is a statement whose opposite is a falsehood. A profound truth is a statement whose opposite is also a profound truth.”

― Frank Wilczek

energy momentum fluid flow electric magnetic

“Energy-momentum tells the metric fluid how to flow.

The metric fluid tells energy-momentum how to flow.

Electric charge tells the electromagnetic fluid how to flow.

The electromagnetic fluid tells electric charge how to flow.

Weak charge tells the weak fluid how to flow.

The weak fluid tells weak charge how to flow.

Strong charge tells the strong fluid how to flow.

The strong fluid tells strong charge how to flow.”

― Frank Wilczek

Panck andromedean constant newton gravity speed light

“Planck noted that although the Andromedans wouldn't have access to our rulers, scales, or clocks, they would have access to our physical laws, which are the same as theirs. They could measure, in particular, three universal constants:

c: The speed of light.

G: Newton's gravitational constant. In Newton's theory, this is a measure of the strength of gravity. To be precise, in Newton's law of gravity, the gravitational force between the bodies of masses m1, m2 separated by distance r is Gm1m2/r^2.

h: Planck's constant.”

― Frank Wilczek

world made ingredients reality space time property quantum

“So: What is the world made of? Subject, as ever, to addition and correction, here is the multifaceted answer that modern physics provides:

1) The primary ingredient of physical reality, from which all else is formed, fills space and time.

2) Every fragment, each space-time element, has the same basic properties as every other fragment.

3) The primary ingredient of reality is alive with quantum activity. Quantum activity has special characteristics. It is spontaneous and unpredictable. And to observe quantum activity, you must disturb it.

4) The primary ingredient of reality also contains enduring material components. These make the cosmos a multilayered, multicolored superconductor.

5) The primary ingredient of reality contains a metric field that gives space-time rigidity and causes gravity.

6) The primary ingredient of reality weighs, with a universal density.”

― Frank Wilczek

ordinary profound mistake progress genius

"An ordinary mistake is one that leads to a dead end, while a profound mistake is one that leads to progress. Anyone can make an ordinary mistake, but it takes a genius to make a profound mistake."

― Frank Wilczek

physics solution convince reasonable mathematics trouble

"In physics, your solution should convince a reasonable person. In math, you have to convince a person who's trying to make trouble. Ultimately, in physics, you're hoping to convince Nature. And I've found Nature to be pretty reasonable."

― Frank Wilczek

knowing calculate understand computer

"Knowing how to calculate something is not the same as understanding it. Having a computer to calculate the origin of mass for us may be convincing, but is not satisfying. Fortunately we can understand it too."

― Frank Wilczek