Sheldon Glashow

Physics American 1932 393 quotes

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

Most quoted

"The Standard Model is a theory of almost everything, but not quite everything. It's a theory of the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions, but it doesn't include gravity. And it doesn't explain why there are three generations of quarks and leptons, or why the Higgs boson has the mass it does."

— from Various interviews and lectures

"We do not ask for what end the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for song. Similarly, we ought not to ask why the human mind troubles to fathom the secrets of the heavens."

— from Nobel Lecture, 1991

"Grand Unified Theories (GUTs) are beautiful, but they're not necessarily true. They're a step in the right direction, but they're not the final answer."

— from Various interviews and lectures

All quotes by Sheldon Glashow (393)

I'm not a religious man, but I do believe in the power of a good theory.

Interview/Speech

The universe is a strange place. It's even stranger when you try to understand it.

Interview/Speech

Some people think physics is hard. I think it's just misunderstood.

Interview/Speech

The best way to predict the future is to invent it. The second best way is to be a physicist.

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I've always been a bit of a rebel. I think that's why I became a physicist.

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The more I learn about the universe, the more I realize how little I know.

Interview/Speech

Physics is like a good puzzle. It's frustrating, but eventually, you get it.

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The universe doesn't care about your feelings. It just is.

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I'm not sure what's more difficult, understanding the universe or understanding my students.

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The beauty of physics is that it's always changing. Just when you think you've got it, something new comes along.

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Don't be afraid to ask stupid questions. They're often the most important ones.

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The universe is full of surprises. That's what makes it so interesting.

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I've always been fascinated by the unknown. That's why I became a physicist.

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The only thing constant in physics is change.

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If you want to make a name for yourself in physics, you have to be willing to challenge the status quo.

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The universe is a vast and mysterious place. And we're just scratching the surface.

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I'm not a genius, I just work hard. And I'm a little bit lucky.

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The best theories are the ones that are simple and elegant.

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Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Especially if it's physics.

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The universe is a beautiful place. Even with all its quirks.

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