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 future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams of understanding nature.

Adapted saying

In the world of science, there are no foreigners.

Attributed saying

The hunger for knowledge is the same in every human heart.

Speech

We must build bridges between the sciences and the humanities.

On education

The true scientist is a person with a childlike curiosity.

Attributed saying

The laws of physics are universal, but their application must be local.

On technology transfer

A scientist's life is a life of struggle—a struggle with nature and a struggle with oneself.

Personal reflection

The most profound discoveries often come from asking the simplest questions.

On scientific method

To be a scientist is to be a citizen of the world.

Attributed saying

The quest for unity in physics is a spiritual quest as well.

Philosophical writing

Do not follow the beaten track. Blaze your own trail.

Advice

Science flourishes in an atmosphere of freedom.

On scientific environment

The beauty of a theory lies in its simplicity and its explanatory power.

On theoretical physics

We are like dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants.

Quoting Bernard of Chartres

My hope is that one day, a child from a village in Africa or Asia will win a Nobel Prize for a discovery made in his or her own country.

Aspirational speech