The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Scientific progress makes moral progress a necessity; for if man's power is increased, the checks that restrain him from abusing it must be strengthened.
Our entire much-praised technological progress, and civilization generally, could be compared to an axe in the hand of a pathological criminal.
All progress depends on the unreasonable man.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.
The scientist is a practical man and his are practical (i.e., practically attainable) aims. He does not seek the ultimate but the proximate. He does not speak of the last analysis but rather of the next approximation. His are not those beautiful structures so delicately designed that a single flaw may cause the collapse of the whole. The scientist builds slowly and with a gross but solid kind of masonry. If dissatisfied with any of his work, even if it be near the very foundations, he can replace that part without damage to the remainder.
Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.
If we will only allow that, as we progress, we remain unsure, we will leave opportunities for alternatives.
Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science.
I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong. If we will only allow that, as we progress, we remain unsure, we will leave opportunities for alternatives. We will not become enthusiastic for the fact, the knowledge, the absolute truth of the day, but remain always uncertain … In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar.
False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views, if supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness.
Progress is made by trial and failure; the failures are generally a hundred times more numerous than the successes ; yet they are usually left unchronicled.
In science it often happens that scientists say, "You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken..."
Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries and new ideas, probably in that order.
Progress in science comes when experiments contradict theory.
Freedom is absolutely necessary for the progress in science and the liberal arts.
or simply:
