I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there.

We are at the very beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. But there are tens of thousands of years in the future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on.

Philosophers say a great deal about what is absolutely necessary for science, and it is always, so far as one can see, rather naive, and probably wrong.

No problem is too small or too trivial if we can really do something about it.

Physicists like to think that all you have to do is say, these are the conditions, now what happens next?

I believe that a scientist looking at nonscientific problems is just as dumb as the next guy.

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool.

Physics is to math what sex is to masturbation.

The worthwhile problems are the ones you can really solve or help solve, the ones you can really contribute something to.

For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.

There is no harm in doubt and scepticism, for it is through these that new discoveries are made.

The real question of government versus private enterprise is argued on too philosophical and abstract a basis. Theoretically, planning may be good. But nobody has ever figured out the cause of government stupidity and until they do (and find the cure) all ideal plans will fall into quicksand.

Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty.