Max Born
Made fundamental contributions to quantum mechanics, particularly the Born rule for calculating probabilities.
Most quoted
"It is natural that a man should consider the work of his hands or his brain to be useful and important. Therefore nobody will object to an ardent experimentalist boasting of his measurements and rather looking down on the 'paper and ink' physics of his theoretical friend, who on his part is proud of his lofty ideas and despises the dirty fingers of the other."
— from Experiment and Theory in Physics, 1943
"The human race has today the means for annihilating itself—either in a fit of complete lunacy, i.e., in a big war, by a brief fit of destruction, or by a careless handling of atomic technology, through a slow process of poisoning and of deterioration in its genetic structure."
— from Letter, 1957
"The human race has today the means for annihilating itself—either in a fit of complete lunacy, i.e., in a big war, by a brief fit of destruction, or by careless handling of atomic technology, through a slow process of poisoning and of deterioration in its genetic structure."
— from Atomic Physics and Human Knowledge, 1957
All quotes by Max Born (371)
The scientist must be willing to challenge established dogma and embrace new ideas.
The universe is not a static entity, but a dynamic process of change and evolution.
The human imagination is the most powerful tool in the arsenal of science.
The true measure of a scientist is not the number of papers published, but the impact of their ideas.
The quantum theory has opened up a new world of possibilities, but it has also raised new questions.
The pursuit of truth is a never-ending journey, not a destination.
The universe is not a deterministic clockwork, but a probabilistic dance of possibilities.
The scientist must be a critical thinker, but also an open-minded explorer.
The greatest discoveries in science often come from unexpected places.
The human mind is capable of understanding the most complex phenomena, but it is also prone to error.
The quantum theory has challenged our classical notions of reality, but it has also expanded our understanding of the universe.
The pursuit of knowledge is a collective endeavor, not an individual pursuit.
The universe is not a collection of isolated particles, but an interconnected web of relationships.
The scientist must be a humble seeker of truth, not an arrogant dispenser of dogma.
The greatest challenge in science is not to find answers, but to ask better questions.
The quantum theory has revealed the probabilistic nature of reality, but it has also shown us the limits of our knowledge.
The pursuit of beauty in science is as important as the pursuit of truth.
The universe is not a static backdrop, but an active participant in our observations.
The human spirit is driven by curiosity, and science is the ultimate expression of that curiosity.
Mathematics is the only good way to come to terms with the world.
Contemporaries of Max Born
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Max Born (1882–1970).