Gerald Holton quotes

“To this day, we see all around us the Promethean drive to omnipotence through technology and to omniscience through science. The effecting of all things possible and the knowledge of all causes are the respective primary imperatives of technology and of science. But the motivating imperative of society continues to be the very different one of its physical and spiritual survival. It is now far less obvious than it was in Francis Bacon's world how to bring the three imperatives into harmony, and how to bring all three together to bear on problems where they superpose.”
-- Gerald Holton

Source : Gerald James Holton (1986). “The Advancement of Science, and Its Burdens: The Jefferson Lecture and Other Essays”, p.183, CUP Archive

#Spiritual Quotes #Knowledge Quotes #Technology Quotes

“The flight of most members of a profession to the high empyrean, where they can work peacefully on purely scientific problems, isolated from the turmoil of real life, was perhaps quite appropriate at an earlier stage of science; but in today's world it is a luxury we cannot afford.”
-- Gerald Holton

Source : Gerald James Holton (1998). “The Scientific Imagination: With a New Introduction”, p.250, Harvard University Press

#Real Quotes #Luxury Quotes #Research Quotes

“If the layman cannot participate in decision making, he will have to turn himself over, essentially blind, to a hermetic elite. ... [The fundamental question becomes] are we still capable of self-government and therefore freedom? Margaret Mead wrote in a 1959 issue of Daedalus about scientists elevated to the status of priests. Now there is a name for this elevation, when you are in the hands of-one hopes-a benevolent elite, when you have no control over your political decisions. From the point of view of John Locke, the name for this is slavery.”
-- Gerald Holton

Source : "Where is Science Taking Us? Gerald Holton Maps the Possible Routes". The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 18, 1981.

#Freedom Quotes #Names Quotes #Issues Quotes

“In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit side-by-side with the giants on whose shoulders we stand.”
-- Gerald Holton

#Intellectual Quotes #Giants Quotes #Sides Quotes

“Persons living in this modern world who do not know the basic facts that determine their very existence, functioning, and surroundings, are living in a dream world. Such persons are, in a very real sense, not sane.”
-- Gerald Holton

Source : Gerald James Holton (1988). “Thematic Origins of Scientific Thought: Kepler to Einstein”, p.464, Harvard University Press

#Dream Quotes #Real Quotes #World Quotes

“Even in the best times, managing science has been compared to herding cats; it is not done well, but one is surprised to find it done at all.”
-- Gerald Holton

#Cat Quotes #Done Quotes #Wells Quotes

“Since one cannot visually experience the presence of the Supersoul, He appears before us as a liberated devotee. Such a spiritual master is none other than Krishna himself.”

“Our first duty is to satisfy the spiritual master, who can arrange for the Lord's mercy. A common man must first begin to serve the spiritual master or the devotee. Then, through the mercy of the devotee, the Lord will be satisfied. Unless one receives the dust of a devotee's lotus feet on one's head, there is no possibility of advancement. Unless one approaches a pure devotee, he cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

“The spiritual master and Krishna are two parallel lines. The train, on two tracks, moves forward. The spiritual Master and Krishna are like these two tracks. They must be served simultaneously. Krishna helps one to find bona fide Spiritual Master and bona fide Spiritual Master helps one to understand Krishna. If one does not get bona fide Spiritual Master, then how he can ever understand Krishna ? You cannot serve Krishna without Spiritual Master, or serve just Spiritual Master without serving Krishna. They must be served simultaneously.”

“There are men that teach best by not teaching at all.”

“Doubt is not below knowledge, but above it.”

“Psychology is action, not thinking about oneself. We continue to shape our personality all our life. To know oneself, one should assert oneself.”

“I think that only daring speculation can lead us further and not accumulation of facts.”

“Misuse of reason might yet return the world to pre-technological night; plenty of religious zealots hunger for just such a result, and are happy to use the latest technology to effect it.”

“They say an elephant never forgets. Well, you are not an elephant. Take notes, constantly. Save interesting thoughts, quotations, films, technologies…the medium doesn't matter, so long as it inspires you. When you're stumped, go to your notes like a wizard to his spellbook. Mash those thoughts together. Extend them in every direction until they meet.”

“The business models in enterprise have changed pretty dramatically. A huge problem with enterprise software traditionally has been usually you sell to the customer and then they adopt the technology. The great thing about 'freemium' and the new way enterprise software is being sold is you get to try it first and then buy it.”