Faraday Quote by Walter Lewin
““why on earth should you generate current in that coil? It wasn’t clear at first what the importance of this discovery was. Soon afterward, the story goes, a dubious politician asked Faraday if his discovery had any practical value, and Faraday is supposed to have responded,””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Feynman Lectures on Physics, 1995 (paraphrased)
Faraday’s discovery initially seemed abstract, but its practical impact proved profound, illustrating that fundamental research can yield unexpected applications.
In simple terms: Fundamental research can lead to practical breakthroughs.
Key Takeaway
Value curiosity and basic science.
Themes
science
discovery
practicality
innovation
Mood
inquisitive
optimistic
Type
scientific
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- R&D labs
- technology development
- education curricula
Key Concepts
physics
electromagnetism
research methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- What current “us” research might become essential?
- How do we balance curiosity with application?
A Different Perspective
Not all basic research yields immediate utility.
![“His [Faraday's] third great discovery is the Magnetization of Light, which I should liken to the Weisshorn among mountains-high, beautiful, and alone.” quote by John Tyndall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d05/john-tyndall-33806_discovery_his-faraday-s-third-great-discovery-is-t_1290958.jpg)
![“To what part of electrical science are we not indebted to Faraday? He has increased our knowledge of the hidden and unknown to such an extent, that all subsequent writers are compelled so frequently to mention his name and quote his papers, that the very repetition becomes monotonous. [How]…” quote by Alfred Smee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f02/alfred-smee-82261_acknowledge_to-what-part-of-electrical-science-are-w_1095021.jpg)
![“To him [Faraday], as to all true philosophers, the main value of a fact was its position and suggestiveness in the general sequence of scientific truth.” quote by John Tyndall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ae/john-tyndall-33806_fact_to-him-faraday-as-to-all-true-philosophe_479803.jpg)
