When an investigator has developed a formula which gives a complete representation of the phenomena within a certain range, he may be prone to satisfaction. Would it not be wiser if he should say 'Foiled again! I can find out… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell's equations-then so much the worse for Maxwell's equations. If it is found to be contradicted by observation-well these experimentalists do bungle things… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
Observation and theory get on best when they are mixed together, both helping one another in the pursuit of truth. It is a good… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
Proof is an idol before which the mathematician tortures himself. — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
It is one thing for the human mind to extract from the phenomena of nature the laws which it has itself put into them;… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
Don't believe the results of experiments until they're confirmed by theory. — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
Probably the simplest hypothesis... is that there may be a slow process of annihilation of matter. — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
There was a time when we wanted to be told what an electron is. The question was never answered. No familiar conceptions can be… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
To the pure geometer the radius of curvature is an incidental characteristic - like the grin of the Cheshire cat. To the physicist it… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
The universe will finally become a ball of radiation, becoming more and more rarified and passing into longer and longer wave-lengths. The longest waves… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
Science is one thing, wisdom is another. Science is an edged tool, with which men play like children, and cut their own fingers. — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
We often think that when we have completed our study of one we know all about two, because 'two' is 'one and one.' We… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
If your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics I give you no hope; there is nothing for it but… — Arthur Eddington Copy Share Image
