Portrait of Richard Feynman

Richard Feynman

Quantum electrodynamics

Modern influential 171 sayings

Sayings by Richard Feynman

Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough.

1981 — From 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.

1981 — From 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Educational Unverifiable

I don't believe in the idea of a 'good' or 'bad' atom. I just believe in atoms.

Unknown — Attributed, often in discussions about objective scientific inquiry.
Inspirational Unverifiable

When you are a scientist, you are a member of a community of people who are trying to find out the truth.

1981 — From 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Wisdom Unverifiable

The principle of science, the definition, almost, is the following: The test of all knowledge is experiment. Experiment is the sole judge of scientific truth.

1965 — From 'The Character of Physical Law'
Educational Unverifiable

I was also a little bit of a clown.

1985 — From 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!'
Wisdom Unverifiable

I don't know anything, but I do know that everything is interesting if you look at it deeply enough.

Unknown — Attributed, similar to other quotes about deep interest.
Wisdom Unverifiable

There are no rules in science, only facts.

Unknown — Attributed, reflecting his empirical approach.
Educational Unverifiable

If you want to master something, teach it.

Unknown — Attributed, a common pedagogical philosophy.
Educational Unverifiable

The imagination of nature is far, far greater than the imagination of man.

1965 — From 'The Character of Physical Law'
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I was always interested in things that are on the edge of what we know.

Unknown — From an interview or lecture, often cited to describe his scientific curiosity.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The price of doing science is the necessity of not being a know-it-all.

Unknown — Attributed, emphasizing humility in scientific pursuit.
Educational Unverifiable

I'm not a serious fellow.

1985 — From 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!'
Wisdom Unverifiable

If you thought that science was certain — well, that is just an error on your part.

1965 — From 'The Character of Physical Law'
Educational Confirmed

The highest possible achievement is to be able to make a discovery.

Unknown — Attributed, reflecting his passion for discovery.
Educational Unverifiable

I had a lot of fun, and I'm very glad I was born.

1985 — From 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!'
Wisdom Unverifiable

When we know how to do something, we don't call it research anymore.

Unknown — Attributed, often in discussions about the nature of research.
Educational Unverifiable

It is not the job of the scientist to tell people what to do, but to provide them with the knowledge to make their own decisions.

1999 (posthumous collection of lectures from 1963) — From 'The Meaning of It All'
Educational Unverifiable

The game of science is to understand the world.

Unknown — Attributed, a concise summary of his scientific outlook.
Educational Unverifiable

I simply want to find out more about the world, and I find that the best way to do that is to do science.

1981 — From 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Educational Unverifiable
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