Enrico Fermi
Created first nuclear reactor, contributed to quantum theory
Most quoted
"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
— from Attributed
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day."
— from Attributed
"Before we knew anything about the structure of the nucleus, we knew that it was very small. And we knew that it was very heavy. And we knew that it was very stable. And we knew that it was very energetic. And we knew that it was very mysterious."
— from Attributed
All quotes by Enrico Fermi (565)
The universe is a vast and wonderful place, and we are just beginning to understand it.
The true scientist is a person who is never satisfied with what they know.
We must never forget the human element in science.
The greatest discoveries are often made by accident.
The power of the atom is a double-edged sword.
It is important to be able to explain complex ideas in simple terms.
The scientific method is a powerful tool, but it is not infallible.
The universe is governed by laws, and it is our job to discover them.
The pursuit of knowledge is a never-ending journey.
We must use our knowledge for the benefit of humanity.
The most exciting thing in science is to discover something new.
The future belongs to those who are curious.
Don't ever tell me what to do. Tell me what you want to achieve, and I'll tell you what to do.
Young man, in science, you don't have to be polite, you just have to be right.
There is no such thing as a 'perfect' experiment. There are only 'good' experiments and 'bad' experiments.
If I could remember the names of all these particles, I'd be a botanist.
Never underestimate the power of a good approximation.
The more you know, the more you realize you don't know.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide people into two kinds, and those who don't.
The fundamental problem of physics is to find out what the world is made of and how it works.
Contemporaries of Enrico Fermi
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Enrico Fermi (1901–1954).