James Clerk Maxwell

Electromagnetic theory

Modern influential 48 sayings

Sayings by James Clerk Maxwell

The only way of discovering the extent of the laws of nature is to try to transcend them.

1871 — Letter to Lewis Campbell
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The true logic of this world is in the calculus of probabilities.

1850 — Letter to Lewis Campbell
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It is an unscientific habit to give names to things before we know what they are.

1873 — A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism
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The velocity of light is a quantity of which we have now a more accurate knowledge than of any other physical constant.

1873 — A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism
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In the present state of science, it would be a rash thing to assert that any one physical constant is absolutely constant.

1873 — A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism
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The only difference between a madman and me is that I am not mad.

Unknown — Attributed, often cited but difficult to pinpoint exact source.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have been trying to think what is the difference between an experiment and an experience.

1853 — Letter to Lewis Campbell
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The greatest discoveries of science have always been the discovery of our ignorance.

Unknown — Attributed, common Maxwellian sentiment but exact wording hard to verify.
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The first thing that I always do is to try to understand the problem.

Unknown — Attributed, general approach to scientific inquiry.
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It is a good thing to have a great many ideas, and a great many of them bad.

Circa 1850s — Letter to a friend, reflecting on his creative process.
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The true beginning of all knowledge is the discovery of something we do not know.

Unknown — Attributed, often paraphrased.
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I am not a great mathematician, but I can do a little.

Circa 1860s — Letter to a colleague, perhaps false modesty.
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It is a perfect pleasure to think of anything that is not connected with the examination.

1854 — Letter while a student at Cambridge.
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The properties of the ether, if it exists, are certainly very remarkable.

1873 — A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism
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If I am not mistaken, there is a good deal of nonsense in the world.

1870 — Letter to Lewis Campbell
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The mathematical difficulties of the subject are so enormous that it is only by great patience and perseverance that we can hope to overcome them.

Circa 1860s — Introductory remarks on kinetic theory.
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The mind of man is like a mirror, which reflects the images of things, but does not always reflect them truly.

Unknown — Attributed, philosophical musing.
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The only way to avoid error is to have no ideas at all.

Circa 1850s — Letter to a friend, humorous self-reflection.
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I have no doubt that there are many persons who would be very glad to get rid of the ether.

1873 — A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism
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The greatest discovery ever made was the discovery of ignorance.

Unknown — Attributed, similar to other quotes, hard to verify exact wording.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable