Karl von Frisch

ant human collective intelligent individual stupid

"The ant is a collectively intelligent and individually stupid animal; man is the opposite."

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

bee lifemagic well draw fill water

“The bee's life is like a magic well: the more you draw from it, the more it fills with water”

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

nature unlimited time travel tortuous path unknown destination

"Nature has unlimited time in which to travel along tortuous paths to an unknown destination. The mind of man is too feeble to discern whence or whither the path runs and has to be content if it can discern only portions of the track, however small."

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

science advane slowly step fascination tired reveal truth

"Science advances but slowly, with halting steps. But does not therein lie her eternal fascination? And would we not soon tire of her if she were to reveal her ultimate truths too easily?"

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

science eternal stream bound time space final goal unreach

"Science is eternal in its out-gushing stream, bounded by neither time nor space, immeasurable in its activity, endless in its scope, its final goal ever unreached."

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

color flower adapt sense visitor human eye beauty

"One can see that the colors of the flowers have been developed as an adaptation to the color sense of their visitors. It is evident that they are not designed for the human eye. But this should not prevent us from delighting in their beauty."

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

professor emeritus 1958 study lifelong learning

"I have been a Professor Emeritus since 1958, and have continued my scientific studies."

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

scientist competent believe first hearing

"No competent scientist ought to believe these things on first hearing."

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)

grammar school medicin switch philosophy zoology

"I studied at a grammar school and later at the University of Vienna in the Faculty of Medicine."

"After the first exams, I switched to the Faculty of Philosophy and studied Zoology in Munich and Vienna."

—Karl von Frisch (1886–1982)