Abdus Salam

Physics Pakistani 1926 – 1996 375 quotes

Shared the Nobel Prize for his contributions to the electroweak unification theory.

Most quoted

"I am a Muslim, and I believe in the Holy Quran. I believe in the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). I believe in the unity of God. I believe in the brotherhood of man. I believe in the equality of all men. I believe in the dignity of labor. I believe in the pursuit of knowledge. I believe in the service of humanity. I believe in peace. I believe in justice. I believe in freedom. I believe in democracy. I believe in the rule of law. I believe in the sanctity of life. I believe in the sanctity of property. I believe in the sanctity of honor. I believe in the sanctity of family. I believe in the sanctity of community. I believe in the sanctity of nation. I believe in the sanctity of world. I believe in the sanctity of universe. I believe in the sanctity of God."

— from Letter to a friend

"The Holy Quran contains verses that speak of the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of day and night, the movement of the sun and the moon, and the expansion of the universe. These verses are a testament to the scientific spirit of Islam."

— from Private writings

"The creation of the universe, its present state and its future evolution, are all governed by the laws of physics. These laws are not arbitrary, but are deeply rooted in the fundamental symmetries of nature."

— from Unifying the Forces of Nature

All quotes by Abdus Salam (375)

The aim of science is to seek the simplest explanation of complex facts.

Paraphrase of Whitehead, often cited

We are all students, and I shall remain one until my last day.

Attributed saying

The history of science, like the history of all civilization, has gone through cycles.

Writing

For a scientist, the most exciting thing is to be at the frontier of knowledge.

Interview

The real wealth of a nation is its scientific and technological capacity.

Speech

Do not be afraid of being called impractical. All great ideas were impractical once.

Advice to students

The challenge for the Third World scientist is to be a scientist and a human being at the same time.

Speech

Physics is a fundamental science. It is the basis for all technology.

Lecture

In science, there is no permanent orthodoxy.

Attributed saying

The most important instrument in research is the human mind.

Advice to researchers

The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is the highest form of human endeavor.

Attributed saying

We must teach our children the beauty of the laws of nature.

Speech on education

A nation that does not invest in basic science is mortgaging its future.

Policy advocacy

The language of nature is written in mathematics.

Paraphrase of Galileo, often used

Symmetry is the underlying principle that guides the fundamental forces.

Nobel-related talk 1979

The electron is a Muslim; it has faith and it performs the prayer (salaat) five times, pointing towards the Ka'ba.

Anecdotal, metaphorical remark on spin precession

I have spent my life trying to bring together the two worlds I belong to—the world of science and the world of Islam.

Personal reflection

Science is a light that illuminates the world.

Attributed saying

Theoretical physics is the poetry of logical ideas.

Paraphrase of Einstein, often echoed

Do not be discouraged by failure. It is the stepping stone to success.

Advice to young scientists