J.B.S. Haldane

universe queer suppose

“The Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

acceptance four stages nonsense interesting unimportant

“The four stages of acceptance:

1. This is worthless nonsense.

2. This is an interesting, but perverse, point of view.

3. This is true, but quite unimportant.

4. I always said so."

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

god nature creator fond stars beetle

“If one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a study of creation it would appear that God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

invention fire flying insult god

“There is no great invention, from fire to flying, which has not been hailed as an insult to some god.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

reality future surprise imagine queer suppose

“I have no doubt that in reality the future will be vastly more surprising than anything I can imagine. Now my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

science benefit car bus horse disease doctor witch

“Science affects the average man and woman in two ways already. He or she benefits by its application driving a motor-car or omnibus instead of a horse-drawn vehicle, and being treated for disease by a doctor or surgeon rather than a witch.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

man armed science baby box matches

“Man armed with science is like a baby with a box of matches.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

man habit change instinct

“Man’s habits change more rapidly than his instincts.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

man 250000 years transcend hunting pack nation

“It took man 250,000 years to transcend the hunting pack. It will not take him so long to transcend the nation.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)

fortell future thing past forecast predict

“We can fortell little of the future save that the thing that has not been is the thing that shall be.”

― J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964)