Richard Feynman

Physics American 1918 – 1988 323 quotes

Nobel laureate known for path integrals and Feynman diagrams

Quotes by Richard Feynman

I don't know what's the matter with people: they don't learn by understanding; they learn by some other way—by rote or something. Their knowledge is so fragile!

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! 1985

The most important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence.

Attributed, often linked to Einstein but also reflects Feynman's philosophy

We are trying to understand nature. We are not trying to understand how to make nature obey us.

Attributed

The only way to have a new idea is to have lots of ideas.

Attributed

I find that a great many people don't understand what a theory is. They think that a theory is just a guess.

The Character of Physical Law 1964

The game is to try to figure out how the world works.

Attributed

I love you, and I want to be with you. I want to play with you, and I want to talk with you, and I want to do things with you. I want to sleep with you, and I want to wake up with you. I want to cry with you, and I want to laugh with you. I want to live with you, and I want to die with you.

Letter to Arline Feynman 1946

I am an explorer, not a scientist. I am interested in finding out about the world, and I am not interested in proving anything.

Private writings

I don't have to be a scientist. I don't have to be a professor. I don't have to be anything. I can just be myself.

Private writings

I find that I am much more interested in the things that I don't understand than in the things that I do understand.

Private writings

I am not a genius. I am just a very curious person.

Private writings

I would rather have a mind that is open to all possibilities than a mind that is closed to all possibilities.

Private writings

The only way to learn is to do.

Private writings

I don't believe in anything that I can't prove.

Private writings

I am not afraid of anything. I am not afraid of death. I am not afraid of life. I am not afraid of anything.

Private writings

I think that the most important thing is to be honest with yourself.

Private writings

I am not interested in being famous. I am interested in being happy.

Private writings

I don't care what other people think of me. I only care what I think of myself.

Private writings

I am not a religious person. I am a spiritual person.

Private writings

I think that the most important thing is to be kind to other people.

Private writings