Christian Huygens
Proposed the wave theory of light and made significant contributions to mechanics and horology.
Most quoted
"It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tossed upon the sea; a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battle and the adventures thereof: but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of truth..."
— from Attributed
"One finds in this subject a kind of demonstration which does not carry with it so high a degree of certainty as that of geometry; and which differs distinctly from the method employed by geometers."
— from Treatise on Light, 1690
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
— from Treatise on Light, 1690
All quotes by Christian Huygens (392)
I have often wondered how it is that the most important discoveries are made by men who are not looking for them.
The more I study, the more I am convinced that the world is full of wonders.
There is no more beautiful sight than that of a well-ordered universe.
It is better to have a little knowledge that is certain, than a great deal that is uncertain.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.
I have found that the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know that I am.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.
A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.
The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift.
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.
Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy.
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
I am not so much concerned with the fact that the Earth moves, as with the fact that so many people believe it does not.
Contemporaries of Christian Huygens
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Christian Huygens (1629–1695).