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 concept of causality in the classical sense is not applicable to quantum phenomena.
The world is not deterministic, but rather governed by probabilities.
The laws of nature are statistical laws.
Science is not a collection of facts, but a way of thinking.
The greatest discovery of science is the discovery of the scientific method.
The task of science is to understand the world, not to explain it away.
The progress of science depends on the freedom of thought.
The most important thing in science is not to get ahead, but to get it right.
The ultimate goal of science is to unify all knowledge.
The beauty of science lies in its simplicity and its power.
Mathematics is the language of physics.
The theory of relativity is a triumph of human reason.
Einstein's theory of relativity has revolutionized our understanding of space and time.
The quantum theory has opened up a new world of understanding.
The development of quantum mechanics has been one of the most exciting periods in the history of science.
The future of physics lies in the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity.
The most profound insights in physics often come from unexpected directions.
The role of the physicist is to explore the unknown and to push the boundaries of human knowledge.
Science is a human endeavor, driven by curiosity and the desire to understand.
The pursuit of knowledge is an endless journey.
Contemporaries of Max Born
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Max Born (1882–1970).