John von Neumann

"The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts."

"Any sufficient advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

"The role of mathematics is fundamentally to understand phenomena in nature."

"Most of us think we're smarter than we are; the world will prove us wrong if we're too careless."

"What is important in a theory is not that it is true, but that it is exact."

"The underlying principle of complexity is growth."

"If you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail - so get more tools."

"The only way to do is to be."

"Anybody who comes to a physicists and says he wants to talk about the meaning and philosophy of quantum mechanics is probably not going to be thanked."

"The problem of constructing a machine to behave like the brain is really a problem of programming."

"Living organisms are like extremely intricate and complex mechanisms."

"One might informally describe the general character of such a machine as follows."

"The general principle that something can be described logically in terms of logical propositions."

"Mathematics is the science of patterns."

"The aim of all mathematical endeavor is to advance human understanding of the natural world."

"The most important problems in mathematics are not the ones that have solutions, but the ones that have consequences."

"In any organization, if you wish to influence events, you must learn to think like a computer scientist."

"The most powerful principle in human affairs is surprise."

"You can't do experimental physics without mathematics."

"The primary limitation on mankind's future is not the resources available but the ideas available."

"Life is a mysterious and wonderful thing, far more complex than any mathematical formula."

"When faced with an unsolvable problem, change your perspective."

"To understand a complex system, you must reduce it to its simplest components."

"The future of science is in the hands of those willing to ask unpopular questions."

"A person who says it is impossible to do something should not interrupt the person doing it."

"The value of a principle is measured by its applicability."

"Mathematics is the art of correct reasoning on wrong figures."

"Nothing is more practical than a good theory."

"The secrets of nature are written in the language of mathematics."

"To understand is to perceive patterns."