Richard Feynman

"We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress."

"Science is what we have learned about how to keep from fooling ourselves."

"You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's what counts."

"Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it."

"Physics isn't the most important thing. Love is."

"Science is what we have learned about how to keep from fooling ourselves."

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

"You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's what counts."

"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."

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

"If you thought that science was certain - well, that is just an error on your part."

"Philosophy of science is about as useful to scientists as ornithology is to birds."

"Science is like sex: sometimes something useful comes out, but that is not the reason we are doing it."

"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt."

"Physics isn't the most important thing. Love is."

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

"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."

"I have no responsibility to live up to what others expect of me. That's their mistake, not my failing."

"I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something."

"Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough."