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)
Equations must be invariant under transformations.
I was shy but determined.
Gravity will be quantized eventually.
Wisdom is knowing when to apply mathematics.
The ether was disproved, but space is curved.
Family life was strict but formative.
The Hamiltonian formalism is essential.
Beauty guides discovery more than experiment sometimes.
I corresponded with Pauli on quantum issues.
The universe's laws are eternal.
Spinors are necessary for relativity.
Retirement allowed more thinking time.
The golden ratio appears in nature.
Humor is rare in physics talks.
I once said little in seminars, but it was profound.
Why did the physicist break up? No attraction.
On his deathbed: I want to know God's thoughts; the rest is detail.
The research student should work on problems which are intellectually challenging.
In a letter to Bethe: Your calculation seems correct mathematically.
From 'The Principles of Quantum Mechanics': The observable quantities in quantum theory are represented by matrices.
Contemporaries of Paul Dirac
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Paul Dirac (1902–1984).