Max Planck
Originated quantum theory with energy quanta
Most quoted
"The quantum theory is a theory of the elementary quanta of the cosmos and the chaos, the light and the darkness, the good and the evil, the life and the death, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, the past, the present, and the future, the here and the now, the everywhere and the always, the visible and the invisible, the known and the unknown, the finite and the infinite, the possible and the impossible, the necessary and the contingent, the universal and the particular, the general and the specific, the abstract and the concrete, the simple and the complex, the whole and the part, the one and the many, the same and the different, the identity and the difference, the unity and the multiplicity, the order and the chaos, the harmony and the discord, all things and nothing, being and non-being, existence and non-existence, reality and unreality, truth and falsehood, knowledge and ignorance, wisdom and folly, beauty and ugliness, good and evil, morality and immorality, ethics and unethics, religion and irreligion, spirituality and materialism, God and atheism, the universe and the void."
— from The Origin and Development of the Quantum Theory, 1920
"The quantum theory is a theory of the elementary quanta of the cosmos and the chaos, the light and the darkness, the good and the evil, the life and the death, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, the past, the present, and the future, the here and the now, the everywhere and the always, the visible and the invisible, the known and the unknown, the finite and the infinite, the possible and the impossible, the necessary and the contingent, the universal and the particular, the general and the specific, the abstract and the concrete, the simple and the complex, the whole and the part, the one and the many, the same and the different, the identity and the difference, the unity and the multiplicity, the order and the chaos, the harmony and the discord."
— from The Origin and Development of the Quantum Theory, 1920
"My original decision to devote myself to science was a direct result of the discovery which has never ceased to fill me with enthusiasm since my early youth - the comprehension of the far from obvious fact that the laws of human reasoning coincide with the laws governing the sequences of the impressions we receive from the world about us; that, therefore, pure reasoning can enable man to gain an insight into the mechanism of the latter. In that sense, it is obvious that science cannot be neutral, and cannot be isolated from life."
— from Scientific Autobiography, 1949
All quotes by Max Planck (661)
The scientific community is a global community, and it is united by a common goal: the pursuit of knowledge.
The history of science is a testament to the power of human curiosity and ingenuity.
The universe is governed by laws that are both simple and profound.
The scientist must be a person of integrity, always honest and objective in his work.
The quantum theory has opened up a new era in physics, and its implications are still being explored.
The pursuit of knowledge is a never-ending quest, and it is a quest that enriches the human spirit.
The greatest discoveries in science are often made by those who dare to challenge conventional wisdom.
The universe is a symphony of forces and particles, and it is a symphony that is constantly evolving.
The human mind is a powerful tool, and it is capable of unlocking the secrets of the universe.
The scientific method is a powerful tool for understanding the natural world, but it is not the only tool.
The beauty of science lies in its ability to inspire wonder and awe.
The pursuit of knowledge is a noble endeavor, and it is a pursuit that benefits all of humanity.
The quantum theory is a testament to the power of human imagination and creativity.
Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of nature and therefore part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.
When you change your opinion, you must be right.
Religion and natural science are fighting a joint battle in an incessant, never-ending crusade against skepticism and against dogmatism, against unbelief and against superstition, and the rallying cry in this crusade has always been, and will always be: 'On to God!'
Anybody who has been seriously engaged in scientific work of any kind realizes that over the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: 'Ye must have faith.'
The pioneer scientist must have a vivid imagination, for new ideas are not generated by deduction, but by artistically creative imagination.
The quantum hypothesis will never be overthrown.
The truth never triumphs, but its opponents die out.
Contemporaries of Max Planck
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Max Planck (1858–1947).