Hendrik Lorentz
Developed the Lorentz transformations, which form the basis of Einstein's special relativity.
Most quoted
"One cannot escape the feeling that these mathematical formulae have an independent existence and an intelligence of their own, that they are wiser than we are, wiser even than their discoverers, that we get more out of them than was originally put into them."
— from Attributed remark
"It is not impossible that in the future we may have theories which are more general than those we now possess, and which will reduce our present theories to special cases, just as the theory of relativity has reduced the older mechanics to a special case."
— from Lectures on Theoretical Physics, 1920
"The difficulties which we encounter in the theory of electrons are largely due to the fact that we are dealing with phenomena which are on the borderland between the domain of ordinary experience and that of the infinitely small."
— from The Theory of Electrons, 1909
All quotes by Hendrik Lorentz (409)
In science, doubt is the beginning of wisdom.
The contraction of bodies in motion is a necessary consequence of electromagnetic theory.
Life is too short to waste on trivial pursuits; dedicate yourself to the pursuit of truth.
The Nobel Prize is a recognition, but the real reward is in the discovery itself.
Electromagnetic fields permeate all of space.
Humor in science lightens the burden of endless calculations.
The unity of nature is revealed through its laws.
I owe my success to persistent effort and the guidance of great minds.
Relativity challenges our intuitions, but it triumphs over experiment.
In the quiet of reflection, the deepest insights emerge.
The electron's behavior defies classical mechanics.
Friendship among scientists is forged in the fire of shared discovery.
Mathematics is the poetry of logical ideas.
Theories must be tested against the harsh judge of experiment.
Age brings wisdom, but curiosity remains eternal.
Einstein's genius lies in his bold imagination.
The beauty of physics is in its elegance and simplicity.
Never fear to question the established order in science.
Waves of light carry the secrets of the universe.
In life, as in physics, balance is key to stability.
Contemporaries of Hendrik Lorentz
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Hendrik Lorentz (1853–1928).