Niels Bohr
Pioneer of quantum theory and atomic structure
Most quoted
"The fact that religions through the ages have spoken in images, parables, and paradoxes means simply that there are no other ways of grasping the reality to which they refer. But that does not mean that it is not a genuine reality. And complementarity, by the way, is not a new invention of mine. It is, in fact, as old as language itself. We have to be clear that when it comes to atoms, language can be used only as poetry. The poet, too, is not nearly so concerned with describing facts as with creating images and establishing connections."
— from Interview with Aage Petersen
"The fact that religions through the ages have spoken in images, parables, and paradoxes means simply that there are no other ways of grasping the reality to which they refer. But that does not mean that it is not a genuine reality. And the fact that this reality is not accessible to us in the same way as material reality makes it no less real."
— from Attributed
"The very nature of the quantum theory thus forces us to regard the space-time co-ordination and the claim of causality, the union of which characterizes the classical theories, as complementary but exclusive features of the description, symbolizing the idealization of observation and definition respectively."
— from Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature, 1929
All quotes by Niels Bohr (768)
The most profound discoveries are often the simplest.
The aim of science is not to conquer nature, but to live in harmony with it.
The universe is not a puzzle to be solved, but a song to be sung.
The greatest adventure is to explore the unknown.
The world is not a book to be read, but a story to be lived.
The only way to make sense of the world is to embrace its contradictions.
The most important lesson we can learn from science is humility.
The universe is not a clockwork, but a living organism.
The greatest discovery is to realize that we are all connected.
The world is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be cherished.
The aim of science is not to predict the future, but to understand the present.
The universe is not a machine, but a mystery.
The greatest wisdom is to know that you know nothing.
The world is not a collection of facts, but a tapestry of stories.
The most important thing is to keep an open mind.
The universe is not a static entity, but a dynamic process.
The greatest challenge is to understand ourselves.
The world is not a puzzle to be solved, but a poem to be read.
The aim of science is not to control nature, but to cooperate with it.
The universe is not a cold, empty space, but a vibrant, living entity.
Contemporaries of Niels Bohr
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Niels Bohr (1885–1962).