Augustin-Jean Fresnel

All the phenomena of optics, and especially those of diffraction, are explained by the interference of the waves of light.

Nature does not make leaps.

The most beautiful theories are those which, while explaining a great number of facts, also predict new ones.

The undulatory theory of light, by its simplicity and the number of phenomena it explains, seems to me to have a great advantage over the emission theory.

It is not enough to observe; one must also combine and generalize.

The true method of discovery is to begin by forming a hypothesis, and then to test it by experiment.

The more I study the phenomena of light, the more I am convinced of the truth of the undulatory theory.

The progress of science depends on the free communication of ideas.

I have always sought to base my theories on experiment, and to deduce from them consequences that can be verified.

The most difficult part of scientific research is often to formulate the right questions.

Truth is often found at the bottom of a well, but it is worth the effort to draw it out.

The imagination is a powerful tool in science, but it must always be guided by reason and experiment.

One must not be afraid to challenge established ideas if new evidence suggests they are wrong.

The beauty of science lies in its ability to reveal the hidden order of the universe.

I have no other ambition than to contribute to the advancement of human knowledge.

The phenomena of polarization are a strong argument in favor of the transverse vibrations of light.

The more complex the phenomenon, the more elegant the explanation must be.

Science is a continuous process of refinement and correction.

The greatest satisfaction in science comes from understanding something that was previously a mystery.

I am convinced that the future of optics lies in the undulatory theory.