Portrait of Enrico Fermi

Enrico Fermi

Nuclear reactor, physics

Modern influential 113 sayings

Sayings by Enrico Fermi

I am an optimist, because I believe that man is capable of solving his problems.

Unknown — Attributed
Inspirational Unverifiable

The pursuit of knowledge is an endless journey.

Unknown — Attributed
Educational Unverifiable

Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.

Unknown — Attributed to Carl Sagan, often misattributed.
Educational Unverifiable

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.

Unknown — Attributed to W.B. Yeats, often misattributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Unknown — Attributed to Steve Jobs, often misattributed.
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

Unknown — Attributed to Plutarch, often misattributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

Unknown — Attributed to Mark Twain, often misattributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Unknown — Attributed to Peter Drucker, often misattributed.
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

The only constant in life is change.

Unknown — Attributed to Heraclitus, often misattributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

We may be living in a world where the future is already written, but we still have the power to change it.

Unknown — Attributed
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

Before I came here I was confused about this subject. Having listened to your lecture I am still confused. But on a higher level.

1940s — Remark to a student after a lecture
Wisdom Confirmed

I hope it won't take long.

1954 — Last words before his death from stomach cancer
Inspirational Confirmed

Where is everybody?

1950 — Fermi Paradox, questioning the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial civilizations
Wisdom Unverifiable

It is not good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge.

1950s — On scientific progress
Educational Unverifiable

Before the war, I was doing pure physics. Now I am doing applied physics. But it is still physics.

1940s — Reported conversation during the Manhattan Project
General Unverifiable

It is not enough to know how to build a bomb. One must also know how to control it.

1940s — Reported statement
War & Violence Unverifiable

The fundamental problem is to find out if we can make a chain reaction go. If we can, then we have a new source of power. If we can't, then we don't.

1940s — Reported conversation during the early stages of the Manhattan Project
General Unverifiable

I consider myself a lucky man who did not have to choose between going to war and doing something else. I just did what I was doing.

1954 — Interview with the New York Times
War & Violence Unverifiable

The world is full of interesting things to do with neutrons.

1930s — Reported statement
General Unverifiable

Never underestimate the power of a good approximation.

1940s-1950s — Attributed to Fermi, common in physics education
General Unverifiable
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