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)
It is not credible that the Earth alone should be inhabited, and all the other planets empty.
The rings of Saturn are not attached to the planet, but are separate bodies.
The true figure of the rings of Saturn is that of a thin, flat ring, inclined to the ecliptic.
The pendulum clock is the most accurate timekeeper yet invented.
The cycloid is the tautochrone.
The center of oscillation of a pendulum is a point such that if all the mass of the pendulum were concentrated there, its period would be the same.
The force of gravity acts equally on all bodies, regardless of their size or composition.
Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe.
The motion of a body in a fluid is resisted by a force proportional to the square of its velocity.
The collision of elastic bodies can be perfectly understood by the conservation of momentum.
The principle of relative motion is fundamental to understanding the universe.
The true system of the world is that in which the sun is at rest and the planets revolve around it.
The study of nature is the study of God's handiwork.
The more we know, the more we realize how much we don't know.
The invention of the telescope has opened up new worlds to our view.
The pursuit of knowledge is a noble endeavor.
The beauty of the universe is a testament to its Creator.
There is no limit to the wonders that can be discovered in the natural world.
The true philosopher is one who seeks to understand the causes of things.
The most important thing is not to stop questioning.
Contemporaries of Christian Huygens
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Christian Huygens (1629–1695).