Paul Dirac
Predicted antimatter and formulated Dirac equation
Most quoted
"The underlying physical laws necessary for the mathematical theory of a large part of physics and the whole of chemistry are thus completely known, and the difficulty is only that the exact application of these laws leads to equations much too complicated to be soluble. It is the purpose of theoretical physics to show that it is possible to derive, from these equations, the properties of the actual world."
— from Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1929
"The methods of progress in theoretical physics have undergone a vast change during the present century. The classical tradition has been to consider the world to be an association of observable objects (particles, fluids, fields, etc.) moving about according to definite laws of force, so that one could form a mental picture in space and time of the whole scheme."
— from Quantised Singularities in the Electromagnetic Field, 1931
"The most powerful method of advance that can be suggested at present is to employ all the resources of pure mathematics in attempts to perfect and generalise the mathematical formalism that forms the existing basis of theoretical physics, and after each success in this direction, to try to interpret the new mathematical features in terms of physical entities."
— from Quantised Singularities in the Electromagnetic Field, 1931
All quotes by Paul Dirac (692)
Science progresses through bold conjectures and rigorous proofs.
I prefer to work alone on my ideas.
The Dirac comb is a useful mathematical tool.
Nature seems to take advantage of the simple mathematical truths.
My prediction of the positron was based on mathematical consistency.
Life is a search for beauty in the equations of nature.
Quantum electrodynamics requires renormalization.
I was influenced by the works of Lorentz and Einstein.
The universe is infinite in all directions.
Mathematics allows us to understand the unseen.
My Nobel lecture was on the theory of the positron.
I don't believe in free will; it's determined by laws.
The bra-ket notation simplifies quantum calculations.
Childhood in Bristol was quiet and studious.
Symmetry is key to physical laws.
I collaborated with Oppenheimer on quantum theory.
The meaning of life is to find beauty in the physical world.
Large numbers in physics are suspicious.
I enjoyed sailing as a hobby.
The cosmological constant was a mistake, but perhaps not.
Contemporaries of Paul Dirac
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Paul Dirac (1902–1984).