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)
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.
The only source of knowledge is experience.
Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.
The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.
The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.
The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.
I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.
The only way to escape the corruptible effect of praise is to go on working.
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.
Contemporaries of Christian Huygens
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Christian Huygens (1629–1695).