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)
My only regret is that I cannot live long enough to see all the errors of my contemporaries corrected.
To deny what is plainly visible is not piety, but blindness.
The universe does not care for our opinions; it simply is.
Some people are so afraid of being wrong that they refuse to learn anything new.
I have often found that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one, though rarely the most popular.
If only human affairs were governed by the same elegant laws as the planets, what a peaceful world it would be.
The greatest discovery is not finding a new star, but realizing how little we truly know.
It is easier to convince a man that he is wrong than to convince him that he has been foolish.
My instruments are more honest than many a philosopher.
The light of reason can be a harsh mistress for those who prefer the shadows of superstition.
I have no patience for those who mistake their prejudices for principles.
The universe is a grand puzzle, and some are content to merely admire the box.
To be truly wise, one must first admit to being profoundly ignorant.
It is a rare individual who can change his mind without losing his temper.
My calculations are often more reliable than the pronouncements of the learned.
The only thing more stubborn than a mule is a man convinced of his own infallibility.
I prefer the company of my telescope to the company of fools.
The truth has a way of revealing itself, regardless of how many try to obscure it.
Some minds are like a sieve, letting all the good ideas pass through while retaining only the dross.
It is a pity that common sense is not more common.
Contemporaries of Christian Huygens
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Christian Huygens (1629–1695).