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)
Our scientific work is a part of our human life, and it must be judged by human standards.
I am a determinist, but a determinist who believes in free will.
The idea of an objective reality of the world in space and time, independent of our observation, is a product of human imagination.
The future is not fixed, but open.
Science is a never-ending quest for knowledge.
The progress of science is not a straight line, but a zigzag.
Mathematics is the language of nature.
The universe is a symphony of vibrations.
We are all connected, like waves in the ocean.
Death is not the end, but a new beginning.
The meaning of life is to give life meaning.
Love is the most powerful force in the universe.
Happiness is not a destination, but a journey.
The greatest discovery is to discover oneself.
Knowledge is power, but wisdom is freedom.
The only constant in life is change.
Embrace uncertainty, for it is the path to discovery.
The human mind is a universe in itself.
The world is full of magic, if only we have eyes to see it.
Every moment is a fresh beginning.
Contemporaries of Max Born
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Max Born (1882–1970).