---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy…"
description: "\"Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy enough to be true.\" — Niels Bohr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/niels-bohr-4542_crazy_your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy_1616570.png"
---

#  Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy enough to be true.

![“Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy enough to be true.” quote by Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/niels-bohr-4542_crazy_your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy_1616570.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/niels-bohr-4542_crazy_your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy_1616570.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/niels-bohr-4542_crazy_your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy_1616570.png)

> “Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy enough to be true.”

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A hypothesis may seem absurd, yet it can still be closer to truth than more conventional ideas.

**In simple terms:** Even crazy ideas can be nearer to truth.

Key Takeaway

Stay open to unconventional possibilities.

Themes

science philosophy innovation

Mood

curious inquisitive

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- research brainstorming
- technology development
- policy making

Key Concepts

paradigm shift epistemology creativity

Questions to Reflect On

- What "crazy" ideas could reshape your field?
- How do you test unconventional theories?

A Different Perspective

Radical ideas risk rejection and lack of evidence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Crazy Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-crazy-248923/) [Crazy True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy-true-2972897/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-crazy-1310211/)

## Related quotes

> [We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question which divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/we-are-all-agreed-that-your-theory-is-crazy-the-question-which/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [I wanna be with you. It's crazy but it's true and everything I do I wanna be with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/backstreet-boys/i-wanna-be-with-you-it-s-crazy-but-it-s-true-and-everything-i-do-i/)

[Backstreet Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/backstreet-boys/)

> [You are the dream that never dies,You are the fire that burns inside,Baby...I never thought that I could love... Someone as much as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hill/you-are-the-dream-that-never-dies-you-are-the-fire-that-burns-inside/)

[Dan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hill/)

> [I got a stubborn heart for you. Call me crazy, but its true; I love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-got-a-stubborn-heart-for-you-call-me-crazy-but-its-true-i-love-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Are you crazy?" "Crazy for you," he whispers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/are-you-crazy-crazy-for-you-he-whispers/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [Life isn't as crazy as it seems, but as it seems, its crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treezy-lunar-emg/life-isn-t-as-crazy-as-it-seems-but-as-it-seems-its-crazy/)

[Treezy Lunar EMG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treezy-lunar-emg/)

> [Ya. I am crazy. Crazy SMART for figuring you out &amp; your sorry excuse that you call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ya-i-am-crazy-crazy-smart-for-figuring-you-out-your-sorry-excuse-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Sometimes you see things that are real, and other times it's like crazy, crazy, crazy, in your face, all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/sometimes-you-see-things-that-are-real-and-other-times-it-s-like/)

[Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/)

> [“I was crazy. I was crazy in the way a child is crazy, in the way of someone who believes, with rash fervor, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-was-crazy-i-was-crazy-in-the-way-a-child-is-crazy-in-the-way-of/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [Found myself today singin' out loud your name. You said I'm crazy, if I am I'm crazy for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/found-myself-today-singin-out-loud-your-name-you-said-i-m-crazy-if-i/)

[Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/)

> [We all know our ideas can be crazy, but are they crazy enough?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobi-yamada/we-all-know-our-ideas-can-be-crazy-but-are-they-crazy-enough/)

[Kobi Yamada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobi-yamada/)

> [“If you have to go crazy, please go crazy all by yourself!" Ursula shouted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/if-you-have-to-go-crazy-please-go-crazy-all-by-yourself-ursula-shouted/)

[Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/)

> [Can I convince the person about whom I'm crazy to be crazy about me? The short answer is no. The long answer is no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/can-i-convince-the-person-about-whom-i-m-crazy-to-be-crazy-about-me/)

[Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/)

> [“I'm not sure if I write because I am crazy, or I'm crazy because I write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-stanphill/i-m-not-sure-if-i-write-because-i-am-crazy-or-i-m-crazy-because-i/)

[Wendy Stanphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-stanphill/)

> [I am only on Facebook to keep track of how crazy the crazy people I know are at any given time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-only-on-facebook-to-keep-track-of-how-crazy-the-crazy-people-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Niels Bohr

> [An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/an-expert-is-a-man-who-has-made-all-the-mistakes-which-can-be-made-in/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [“Stop telling God what to do with his dice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/stop-telling-god-what-to-do-with-his-dice/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes, which can be made, in a very narrow field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/an-expert-is-someone-who-knows-some-of-the-worst-mistakes-which-can/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [The opposite of every great idea is another great idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/the-opposite-of-every-great-idea-is-another-great-idea/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [“Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself it’s own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/every-great-and-deep-difficulty-bears-in-itself-it-s-own-solution-it/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [It is a great pity that human beings cannot find all of their satisfaction in scientific contemplativeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/it-is-a-great-pity-that-human-beings-cannot-find-all-of-their/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [Anyone not shocked by quantum mechanics has not yet understood it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/anyone-not-shocked-by-quantum-mechanics-has-not-yet-understood-it/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [The meaning of life consists in the fact that it makes no sense to say that life has no meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/the-meaning-of-life-consists-in-the-fact-that-it-makes-no-sense-to/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [Technology has advanced more in the last thirty years than in the previous two thousand. The exponential increase in advancement will only continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/technology-has-advanced-more-in-the-last-thirty-years-than-in-the/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [ Anybody who is not shocked by this subject has failed to understand it. \[of quantum mechanics\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/anybody-who-is-not-shocked-by-this-subject-has-failed-to-understand/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [When it comes to atoms, language can be used only as in poetry. The poet, too, is not nearly so concerned with describing facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/when-it-comes-to-atoms-language-can-be-used-only-as-in-poetry-the/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [Every description of natural processes must be based on ideas which have been introduced and defined by the classical theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/every-description-of-natural-processes-must-be-based-on-ideas-which/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [It is, indeed, perhaps the greatest prospect of humanistic studies to contribute through an increasing knowledge of the history of cultural development to that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/it-is-indeed-perhaps-the-greatest-prospect-of-humanistic-studies-to/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [One thought spectra are marvellous, but it is not possible to make progress there. Just as if you have the wing of a butterfly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/one-thought-spectra-are-marvellous-but-it-is-not-possible-to-make/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [If you think you understand it, that only shows that you don't know the first thing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/if-you-think-you-understand-it-that-only-shows-that-you-don-t-know/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

[Explore all 108 Niels Bohr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

## More Crazy quotes

> [Im wild Im crazy, I'm wild, Im crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-dot-curve/im-wild-im-crazy-i-m-wild-im-crazy/)

[Dot Dot Curve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-dot-curve/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/)

[Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/)

> [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/)

[Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/)

> [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/)

[Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/)

> [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/)

[Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/)

[Browse all 9,039 Crazy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy enough to be true.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Niels Bohr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy-enough-to-be-true/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Crazy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy-enough-to-be-true/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/niels-bohr-4542_crazy_your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy_1616570.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/niels-bohr-4542_crazy_your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy_1616570.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/niels-bohr-4542_crazy_your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy_1616570.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Your theory is crazy, but it's not crazy enough to be true.” — Niels Bohr",
                "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": "Niels Bohr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Your theory is crazy, but it's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy-enough-to-be-true/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/your-theory-is-crazy-but-it-s-not-crazy-enough-to-be-true/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
