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 center of oscillation and the center of suspension are reciprocal.
The waves of light spread not only in straight lines, but also bend into the shadow.
The sun is but one of an infinite number of stars.
The search for truth is more precious than its possession.
The force which retains the planets in their orbits is directed towards the sun.
The nature of light must be understood before the nature of colours can be comprehended.
I have often been astonished that while the sciences have advanced so far, we know so little about the principles of things.
The pendulum clock will give the measure of time more exactly than any other instrument.
The surface of the moon is full of inequalities, mountains, and valleys.
The mind should be accustomed to making sound judgments about the probabilities of things.
The phenomena of nature are subject to mathematical laws.
There is a vast difference between the knowledge of a man of the world and that of a scholar.
Contemporaries of Christian Huygens
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Christian Huygens (1629–1695).