---
title: "1 Physicists Understand Quotes By David J. C. MacKay"
description: "1 Physicists Understand quotes by David J. C. MacKay. Plus more from David J. C. MacKay and more Physicists Understand sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/david-j-c-mackay-27105_about_most-of-physics-is-about-energy-and-phys_1750205.jpg"
---

> [Most of physics is about energy, and physicists understand inefficiencies. I wanted to write a book about our energy options in a neutral, human-accessible form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/most-of-physics-is-about-energy-and-physicists-understand/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/david-j-c-mackay-27105_about_most-of-physics-is-about-energy-and-phys_1750205.jpg)

## More by David J. C. MacKay

> [Electric cars are really very cool. Air-source heat pumps are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/electric-cars-are-really-very-cool-air-source-heat-pumps-are-great/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [Fridges can be modified to nudge their internal thermostats up and down just a little in response to the main's frequency in such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/fridges-can-be-modified-to-nudge-their-internal-thermostats-up-and/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [In a climate where people don't understand the numbers, newspapers, campaigners, companies, and politicians can get away with murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/in-a-climate-where-people-don-t-understand-the-numbers-newspapers/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [Solving climate change is a complex topic, but in a single crude brush-stroke, here is the solution: the price of carbon dioxide must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/solving-climate-change-is-a-complex-topic-but-in-a-single-crude-brush/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [I was writing a book about sustainable energy, and a friend asked me, 'Well, how much energy do you use at home?' And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/i-was-writing-a-book-about-sustainable-energy-and-a-friend-asked-me/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [If all the ineffective ideas for solving the energy crisis were laid end to end, they would reach to the moon and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/if-all-the-ineffective-ideas-for-solving-the-energy-crisis-were-laid/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [We can't be anti-everything - we need an energy plan that adds up. But there's a lack of numeracy in the public discussion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/we-can-t-be-anti-everything-we-need-an-energy-plan-that-adds-up-but/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [It sounded like a very loud vacuum cleaner behind us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/it-sounded-like-a-very-loud-vacuum-cleaner-behind-us/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [Fusion power is speculative and experimental. I think it is reckless to assume that the fusion problem will be cracked, but I'm happy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/fusion-power-is-speculative-and-experimental-i-think-it-is-reckless/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [When the Industrial Revolution started, the amount of carbon sitting underneath Britain in the form of coal was as big as the amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/when-the-industrial-revolution-started-the-amount-of-carbon-sitting/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [The United States consumes power per land-area at a rate three times the average. Even though they are more energy efficient, densely populated industrial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/the-united-states-consumes-power-per-land-area-at-a-rate-three-times/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [We must not let ourselves be swept off our feet in horror at the danger of nuclear power. Nuclear power is not infinitely dangerous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/we-must-not-let-ourselves-be-swept-off-our-feet-in-horror-at-the/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [Most of physics is about energy, and physicists understand inefficiencies. I wanted to write a book about our energy options in a neutral, human-accessible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/most-of-physics-is-about-energy-and-physicists-understand/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [The amount of energy saved by switching off the phone charger is exactly the same as the energy used by driving an average car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/the-amount-of-energy-saved-by-switching-off-the-phone-charger-is/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

> [The discussion about energy options tends to be an intensely emotional, polarised, mistrustful, and destructive one. Every option is strongly opposed: the public seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-c-mackay/the-discussion-about-energy-options-tends-to-be-an-intensely/)

[David J. C. MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-c-mackay/)

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