--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The late Richard Feynman, a superb…" description: "\"The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as we talked about the laser that the way to tell a great idea is that, when people hear it, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/charles-hard-townes-50121_feynman_the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physic_2156351.png" --- # The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as… ![“The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as we talked about the laser that the way to tell a great idea is that, when people hear it, they say, 'Gee, I could have thought of that.'” quote by Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/charles-hard-townes-50121_feynman_the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physic_2156351.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/charles-hard-townes-50121_feynman_the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physic_2156351.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/charles-hard-townes-50121_feynman_the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physic_2156351.png) > “The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as we talked about the laser that the way to tell a great idea is that, when people hear it, they say, 'Gee, I could have thought of that.'” [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A great idea feels obvious after hearing it, showing its clarity and accessibility. **In simple terms:** Good ideas seem simple once explained. Key Takeaway Seek ideas that feel instantly understandable. Themes creativity communication insight Mood inspired reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - team brainstorming - science education - public speaking - innovation workshops Key Concepts cognitive ease recognition humility Questions to Reflect On - How can you test if an idea is truly accessible? - What makes a complex concept feel simple? A Different Perspective Ideas may seem simple yet be hard to discover initially. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-idea/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Lasers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Richard Feynman\] truly believed that if you couldn't explain something simply, you didn't understand it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-susskind/richard-feynman-truly-believed-that-if-you-couldn-t-explain-something/) [Leonard Susskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-susskind/) > [“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled. Richard Feynman, Rogers Commission Report (1986)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kleppmann/for-a-successful-technology-reality-must-take-precedence-over-public-3/) [Martin Kleppmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kleppmann/) > [Richard Feynman was fond of giving the following advice on how to be a genius. 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Feynman's live demonstration of the rigidity of the O-rings when cold that doomed the space shuttle Challenger, killing seven astronauts:\] The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/on-richard-p-feynman-s-live-demonstration-of-the-rigidity-of-the-o/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [My faith in the expertise of physicists like Richard Feynman, for instance, permits me to endorse—and, if it comes to it, bet heavily on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-faith-in-the-expertise-of-physicists-like-richard-feynman-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Brighter Than a Thousand Suns' by Robert Jungk and 'Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman!' by Richard Feynman were both books my father purchased for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baiju-bhatt/brighter-than-a-thousand-suns-by-robert-jungk-and-surely-you-re/) [Baiju Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baiju-bhatt/) > [“First you guess. Don't laugh, this is the most important step. Then you compute the consequences. Compare the consequences to experience. If it disagrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-you-guess-don-t-laugh-this-is-the-most-important-step-then-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The reason Dick 's physics was so hard for ordinary people to grasp was that he did not use equations. The usual theoretical physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/the-reason-dick-s-physics-was-so-hard-for-ordinary-people-to-grasp/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [ "Half genius and half buffoon," Freeman Dyson ... wrote. ... \[Richard\] Feynman struck him as uproariously American-unbuttoned and burning with physical energy. It took… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/half-genius-and-half-buffoon-freeman-dyson-wrote-richard-feynman/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) ## More by Charles Hard Townes > [When God said "Let there be light" he surely must have meant perfectly coherent light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/when-god-said-let-there-be-light-he-surely-must-have-meant-perfectly/) [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) > [I strongly believe in the existence of God, based on intuition, observations, logic, and also scientific knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/i-strongly-believe-in-the-existence-of-god-based-on-intuition/) [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) > [Many have a feeling that somehow intelligence must have been involved in the laws of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/many-have-a-feeling-that-somehow-intelligence-must-have-been-involved/) [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) > [It's almost a sort of fairy story tale, just what a novelist would write about a discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/it-s-almost-a-sort-of-fairy-story-tale-just-what-a-novelist-would/) [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) > [At least this is the way I see it. I am a physicist. I also consider myself a Christian. As I try to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/at-least-this-is-the-way-i-see-it-i-am-a-physicist-i-also-consider/) [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) > [Science, with its experiments and logic, tries to understand the order or structure of the universe. Religion, with its theological inspiration and reflection, tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/science-with-its-experiments-and-logic-tries-to-understand-the-order/) [Charles Hard Townes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) [Explore all 7 Charles Hard Townes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/) ## More Feynman quotes > [“Dick Feynman was a genius of visualization (he was also no slouch with equations): he made a mental picture of anything he was working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-susskind/dick-feynman-was-a-genius-of-visualization-he-was-also-no-slouch-with/) [Leonard Susskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-susskind/) > [ \[Richard Feynman\] truly believed that if you couldn't explain something simply, you didn't understand it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-susskind/richard-feynman-truly-believed-that-if-you-couldn-t-explain-something/) [Leonard Susskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-susskind/) > [“I don't mind not knowing. It doesn't scare me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-don-t-mind-not-knowing-it-doesn-t-scare-me/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“All our bright minds,” Feynman said sardonically, “and we can’t figure how to stop the enemy from dumping dirt on us.” Freeman said with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-benford/all-our-bright-minds-feynman-said-sardonically-and-we-can-t-figure/) [Gregory Benford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-benford/) > [“The reason Dick 's physics was so hard for ordinary people to grasp was that he did not use equations. The usual theoretical physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/the-reason-dick-s-physics-was-so-hard-for-ordinary-people-to-grasp/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [“First you guess. Don't laugh, this is the most important step. Then you compute the consequences. Compare the consequences to experience. If it disagrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-you-guess-don-t-laugh-this-is-the-most-important-step-then-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take this neat little equation here. It tells me all the ways an electron can make itself comfortable in or around an atom. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-feynman/take-this-neat-little-equation-here-it-tells-me-all-the-ways-an/) [Richard Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-feynman/) > [Brighter Than a Thousand Suns' by Robert Jungk and 'Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman!' by Richard Feynman were both books my father purchased for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baiju-bhatt/brighter-than-a-thousand-suns-by-robert-jungk-and-surely-you-re/) [Baiju Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baiju-bhatt/) > [My faith in the expertise of physicists like Richard Feynman, for instance, permits me to endorse—and, if it comes to it, bet heavily on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-faith-in-the-expertise-of-physicists-like-richard-feynman-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[On Richard P. Feynman's live demonstration of the rigidity of the O-rings when cold that doomed the space shuttle Challenger, killing seven astronauts:\] The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/on-richard-p-feynman-s-live-demonstration-of-the-rigidity-of-the-o/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [“Until I was twenty I was sure there was a being who could see everything I did and who didn't like most of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/until-i-was-twenty-i-was-sure-there-was-a-being-who-could-see/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [“Richard P Feynman was fascinated by the Moon; he tried in earnest to see the Moon. But science could only see the Moon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/richard-p-feynman-was-fascinated-by-the-moon-he-tried-in-earnest-to/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“Richard Feynman had to say this about energy in his 1961 lecture: “There is a fact, or if you wish, a law, governing all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/richard-feynman-had-to-say-this-about-energy-in-his-1961-lecture/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“But our relationship to these infinite pasts and futures isn’t random—plausibility throws its weight around, per some freaky quantum mechanics stuff that Dr. Oda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/but-our-relationship-to-these-infinite-pasts-and-futures-isn-t-random/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Feynman's cryptic remark, "no one is that much smarter ...," to me, implies something Feynman kept emphasizing: that the key to his achievements was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-warren-anderson/feynman-s-cryptic-remark-no-one-is-that-much-smarter-to-me-implies/) [Philip Warren Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-warren-anderson/) Browse all 40 Feynman quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as we talked about the laser that the way to tell a great idea is that, when people hear it, they say, 'Gee, I could have thought of that.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Hard Townes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physicist-said-once-as-we-talked/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feynman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physicist-said-once-as-we-talked/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/charles-hard-townes-50121_feynman_the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physic_2156351.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/charles-hard-townes-50121_feynman_the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physic_2156351.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/charles-hard-townes-50121_feynman_the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physic_2156351.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as we talked about the laser that the way to tell a…” — Charles Hard Townes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Hard Townes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hard-townes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The late Richard Feynman, a superb...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physicist-said-once-as-we-talked/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hard-townes/the-late-richard-feynman-a-superb-physicist-said-once-as-we-talked/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```