-
“Soon I knew the craft of experimental physics was beyond me - it was the sublime quality of patience - patience in accumulating data, patience with recalcitrant equipment - which I sadly lacked.”
Source : Abdus Salam, C. H. Lai (1987). “Ideals and Realities: Selected Essays of Abdus Salam”, p.279, World Scientific
-
“In the spirit of science, there really is no such thing as a 'failed experiment.' Any test that yields valid data is a valid test.”
Source : Ernst Hans Gombrich, Didier Eribon (1993). “Looking for answers: conversations on art and science”, Harry N Abrams Inc
-
“It is better to have 100 functions operate on one data structure than to have 10 functions operate on 10 data structures.”
-
“Rational behavior ... depends upon a ceaseless flow of data from the environment. It depends upon the power of the individual to predict, with at least a fair success, the outcome of his own actions. To do this, he must be able to predict how the environment will respond to his acts. Sanity, itself, thus hinges on man's ability to predict his immediate, personal future on the basis of information fed him by the environment.”
-
“The mechanist is intimately convinced that a precise knowledge of the chemical constitution, structure, and properties of the various organelles of a cell will solve biological problems. This will come in a few centuries. For the time being, the biologist has to face such concepts as orienting forces or morphogenetic fields. Owing to the scarcity of chemical data and to the complexity of life, and despite the progresses of biochemistry, the biologist is still threatened with vertigo.”
-
“Structure is more important than content in the transmission of information.”
-
“The mark of an educated man is the ability to make a reasoned guess on the basis of insufficient information.”
-
“I don't show just anyone how to crust a sea bass. That's sacred information.”
-
“When human beings are scared and feel everything is exposed to the government, we will censor ourselves from free thinking. That's dangerous for human development.”
-
“Human development is a form of chronological unfairness, since late-comers are able to profit by the labors of their predecessors without paying the same price.”
