--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I recognize that many physicists are…" description: "\"I recognize that many physicists are smarter than I am-most of them theoretical physicists. A lot of smart people have gone into theoretical physics, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/linus-pauling-8508_being-smart_i-recognize-that-many-physicists-are-sma_1151835.jpg" --- # I recognize that many physicists are smarter than I… ![“I recognize that many physicists are smarter than I am-most of them theoretical physicists. A lot of smart people have gone into theoretical physics, therefore the field is extremely competitive. I console myself with the thought that although they may be smarter and may be deeper thinkers than I…” quote by Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/linus-pauling-8508_being-smart_i-recognize-that-many-physicists-are-sma_1151835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/linus-pauling-8508_being-smart_i-recognize-that-many-physicists-are-sma_1151835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/linus-pauling-8508_being-smart_i-recognize-that-many-physicists-are-sma_1151835.jpg) > “I recognize that many physicists are smarter than I am-most of them theoretical physicists. A lot of smart people have gone into theoretical physics, therefore the field is extremely competitive. I console myself with the thought that although they may be smarter and may be deeper thinkers than I am, I have broader interests than they have.” [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges that theoretical physicists are often more intelligent, but values broader interests, finding comfort in a diverse intellectual scope. **In simple terms:** Physicists may be smarter, but I have wider interests. Key Takeaway Embrace your breadth of curiosity. Themes intellectual humility breadth competition Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - academic research - interdisciplinary projects - personal development Key Concepts physics intelligence career paths Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance breadth and depth? - What unique perspective do you bring? A Different Perspective Specialization can limit opportunities for depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-smart/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Physicists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicists/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-people/) [Theoretical physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theoretical-physics/) [Thinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinker/) ## Related quotes > [“Theoretical physicists are Platonists. Until the last few years, they believed that the entire universe, the one universe, was generated from a few principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/theoretical-physicists-are-platonists-until-the-last-few-years-they/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“When theoretical physicists have no clue what something is, how it works or what the hell is going on, they start tacking the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-thirteen/when-theoretical-physicists-have-no-clue-what-something-is-how-it/) [Terence Thirteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-thirteen/) > [There are no excuses for theoretical physicists not to perform and deliver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashoke-sen/there-are-no-excuses-for-theoretical-physicists-not-to-perform-and/) [Ashoke Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashoke-sen/) > [Our relationships as experimentalists with theoretical physicists should be like those with a beautiful woman - we should accept with gratitude any favours she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-artsimovich/our-relationships-as-experimentalists-with-theoretical-physicists/) Lev Artsimovich > [If you want to find out anything from the theoretical physicists about the methods they use, I advise you to stick closely to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-you-want-to-find-out-anything-from-the-theoretical-physicists/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Theoretical physicists live in a classical world, looking out into a quantum-mechanical world. The latter we describe only subjectively, in terms of procedures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stewart-bell/theoretical-physicists-live-in-a-classical-world-looking-out-into-a/) [John Stewart Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stewart-bell/) > [There are theoretical physicists who imagine, deduce, and guess at new laws, but do not experiment; and then there are experimental physicists who experiment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-are-theoretical-physicists-who-imagine-deduce-and-guess-at-new/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mediocre theoretical physicists make no progress. They spend all their time understanding other people's progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/mediocre-theoretical-physicists-make-no-progress-they-spend-all-their/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [“I now view theoretical physicists the same way I view politicians. If their lips are moving, they’re lying. If their lips aren’t moving, they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-thirteen/i-now-view-theoretical-physicists-the-same-way-i-view-politicians-if/) [Terence Thirteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-thirteen/) > [“...I am not, however, militant in my atheism. The great English theoretical physicist Paul Dirac is a militant atheist. I suppose he is interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-am-not-however-militant-in-my-atheism-the-great-english-theoretical/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Theoretical physicists accept the need for mathematical beauty as an act of faith... For example, the main reason why the theory of relativity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dirac/theoretical-physicists-accept-the-need-for-mathematical-beauty-as-an/) [Paul Dirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dirac/) > [We need an enduring, robust theory of education. Now, it seems education careens from one fad to another and often back again. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/we-need-an-enduring-robust-theory-of-education-now-it-seems-education/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Since the founding of quantum mechanics in the 1920s, theoretical physics had nurtured an extremely radical tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gross/since-the-founding-of-quantum-mechanics-in-the-1920s-theoretical/) [David Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gross/) > [“When you ask what are electrons and protons I ought to answer that this question is not a profitable one to ask and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-m-dirac/when-you-ask-what-are-electrons-and-protons-i-ought-to-answer-that/) [Paul A.M. Dirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-m-dirac/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More by Linus Pauling > [You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/you-can-trace-every-sickness-every-disease-and-every-ailment-to-a/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for truth, that is the effort to understand the world: it involves the rejection of bias, of dogma, of revelation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-truth-that-is-the-effort-to-understand-the/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The only sane policy for the world is that of abolishing war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-only-sane-policy-for-the-world-is-that-of-abolishing-war/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Just one living cell in the human body is, more complex than New York City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/just-one-living-cell-in-the-human-body-is-more-complex-than-new-york/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/satisfaction-of-one-s-curiosity-is-one-of-the-greatest-sources-of/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Science is the search for the truth--it is not a game in which one tries to beat his opponent, to do harm to others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/science-is-the-search-for-the-truth-it-is-not-a-game-in-which-one/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [ \[Professor Pauling\] confesses that he had harboured the feeling that sooner or later he would be the one to get the DNA structure; and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/professor-pauling-confesses-that-he-had-harboured-the-feeling-that/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-lots-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Every aspect of the world today - even politics and international relations - is affected by chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/every-aspect-of-the-world-today-even-politics-and-international/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I believe that you can, by taking some simple and inexpensive measures, lead a longer life and extend your years of well-being. My most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-believe-that-you-can-by-taking-some-simple-and-inexpensive-measures/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [But I know also that still more interesting discoveries will be made that I have not the imagination to describe - and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/but-i-know-also-that-still-more-interesting-discoveries-will-be-made/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [Man's great power of thinking, remembering, and communicating are responsible for the evolution of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/man-s-great-power-of-thinking-remembering-and-communicating-are/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-best-way-to-have-a-good-idea-is-to-have-a-lot-of-ideas/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [I try to identify myself with the atoms ... I ask what I would do If I were a carbon atom or a sodium atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/i-try-to-identify-myself-with-the-atoms-i-ask-what-i-would-do-if-i/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-way-to-get-good-ideas-is-to-get-lots-of-ideas-and-throw-the-bad/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) [Explore all 80 Linus Pauling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) ## More Being smart quotes > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Listen! Say less rather than more. If you want to be smart, play stupid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-rubinstein/listen-say-less-rather-than-more-if-you-want-to-be-smart-play-stupid/) [Helena Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-rubinstein/) > [I hated grunge. No one’s more feminist than me, but you don’t have to look as if you don’t give a - you know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-hated-grunge-no-one-s-more-feminist-than-me-but-you-don-t-have-to/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [To be smart, spend carefully. To be wise, save regularly. To be genius, give extravagantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/to-be-smart-spend-carefully-to-be-wise-save-regularly-to-be-genius/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [For the past few years, I've been more selective than I have any right to be, but I think that's finally starting to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/for-the-past-few-years-i-ve-been-more-selective-than-i-have-any-right/) [Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/) > [If you're stupid enough to whiff, you should be smart enough to forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/if-you-re-stupid-enough-to-whiff-you-should-be-smart-enough-to-forget/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I learned just to be a belligerent asshole, which was really: "You have to get what you need to get out of it." You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-learned-just-to-be-a-belligerent-asshole-which-was-really-you-have/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [I know it sounds weird, but my definition of 'sexy' has changed as I've gotten older. And being smart and informed makes me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-know-it-sounds-weird-but-my-definition-of-sexy-has-changed-as-i-ve/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [It's always better to be wise than to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/it-s-always-better-to-be-wise-than-to-be-smart/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Each practitioner thinks there's one magic way to get a machine to be smart, and so they're all wasting their time in a sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/each-practitioner-thinks-there-s-one-magic-way-to-get-a-machine-to-be/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [All my serving utensils are measured. It's not obvious, because they're really beautiful, but I have the option of tracking what I'm eating. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vincent/all-my-serving-utensils-are-measured-it-s-not-obvious-because-they-re/) [Ali Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vincent/) > [We should all feel confident in our intelligence. By the way, intelligence to me isn't just being book-smart or having a college degree; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabatha-coffey/we-should-all-feel-confident-in-our-intelligence-by-the-way/) [Tabatha Coffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabatha-coffey/) > [Calling someone fat wont make you any skinnier, calling someone dumb dosnt make you any smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mean-girls/calling-someone-fat-wont-make-you-any-skinnier-calling-someone-dumb/) [Mean Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mean-girls/) > [The way to win is to work, work, work, work and hope to have a few insights And you're probably not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-way-to-win-is-to-work-work-work-work-and-hope-to-have-a-few/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [What we are saying is we have to be smart about the ideology that is putting this idea into the world that a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asra-nomani/what-we-are-saying-is-we-have-to-be-smart-about-the-ideology-that-is/) [Asra Nomani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asra-nomani/) [Browse all 243 Being smart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-smart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I recognize that many physicists are smarter than I am-most of them theoretical physicists. 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