Max Planck

"Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve."

"All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration."

"The inability to perceive that existence preceded creation is the primary barrier to understanding."

"Anybody who has been seriously engaged in scientific work of any kind realizes that over the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: 'You must have faith.'"

"I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness."

"It is often stated that of all the theories proposed in this century, the silliest is quantum theory. In fact, some say that if quantum theory hasn't profoundly shocked you, you haven't understood it."

"The scientist only imposes two things, namely truth and sincerity, imposes them rigorously."

"An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents; it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out, and that the growing generation is familiarized with the ideas from the beginning."

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

"Anybody who has been seriously engaged in scientific work knows that over the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: 'You must have faith.'"

"Observations not only disturb what has to be measured, they produce it."

"The atoms or elementary particles themselves are not real; they form a world of potentialities."

"We cannot know, as a matter of principle, the present in all its details."

"The acceptance of an indivisible quantum of action shows that we must renounce the ordinary classical pictures of nature."

"The new scientific truths do not triumph because their opponents come to believe in them, but rather because the opponents die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with them."

"Truth is like the sun. If you try to stare at it, it will burn your eyes out."

"The main axes of evil in this world are stupidity, weakness of will, and cruelty."

"He who has felt the beauty of nature cannot but believe in God."

"Faith is the only gateway to the land of unconditional hope."

"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts."

"It is impossible to obtain a conviction of the existence of absolute evil, without the existence of absolute good."

"I believe in Spinoza's God, who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of all being, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings."

"As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such."

"A physicist is just an atom's way of looking at itself."

"The duty of a man is the same as the duty of an atom - to advance in his field."

"It is better to have light in one's being than to have created the most powerful and illuminating intelligence."

"Every scientist who has worked hard in his own field knows that over the entrance to the temple of science are written the words: 'Ye must have faith.' It is a quality which the scientist cannot dispense with."

"A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die."

"God is subtle, but he is not malicious."

"One cannot be deeply responsive to the world without being saddened very often."