Richard Feynman

Quantum electrodynamics

Modern influential 171 sayings

Sayings by Richard Feynman

I guess I'm just mischievous. I just love to do that to people. Well especially when they're so gleefully happy that it's been going to cost 13 signatures haha.

Unknown — Reflecting on his prank of limiting signatures for a lecture payment
Humorous Unverifiable

You know, the dumbest goddamn student you ever saw can understand things if you explain them right. So if you can’t explain it, it’s because you don’t understand it.

1981 — Interview, 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Controversial Unverifiable

I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong.

1981 — From 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Humorous Unverifiable

What do you care what other people think?

1988 — Title of a book compiling his letters and talks
Humorous Unverifiable

I have a theory that the universe is a great big safe, and that there's a combination to open it. But the combination is locked up in the safe.

Unknown — Attributed, conversational
Humorous Unverifiable

Scientific knowledge is a body of statements of varying degrees of certainty—some most unsure, some nearly sure, but none absolutely certain.

1963 — From 'The Meaning of It All'
Humorous Unverifiable

I was never a very good student, and I always had trouble with math. I was always in the bottom of the class in math.

1985 — From 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!'
Humorous Unverifiable

I would rather have a world with five billion people that are happy and healthy and well-fed and full of wonderful things than a world with twenty billion people who are starving and miserable.

1963 — From 'The Meaning of It All'
Humorous Unverifiable

There is no way to learn anything, except by making mistakes.

Unknown — Attributed, common sentiment
Humorous Unverifiable

You know, the most amazing thing happened to me tonight... I saw the brightest star in the sky. And it was moving!

1985 — Recounting an experience in 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!'
Humorous Unverifiable

I just can't understand why people are so interested in what I do. It's just physics.

Unknown — Attributed, informal conversation
Humorous Unverifiable

To not know is a form of knowledge.

Unknown — Attributed, philosophical thought
Humorous Unverifiable

I don't believe in the idea of a 'genius.' I believe in the idea of a 'hard worker.'

Unknown — Attributed, informal discussion
Humorous Unverifiable

Why do you suppose that, when you are not speaking English, you speak with an accent?

Unknown — Joke/riddle, often attributed to him
Humorous Unverifiable

When we know why, we know what to do.

Unknown — Attributed, general statement
Humorous Unverifiable

I'm not a serious person. I'm just a serious scientist.

Unknown — Attributed, informal interview
Humorous Unverifiable

The greatest joy is to understand how nature works.

1981 — From 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Humorous Unverifiable

Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Immediately pay attention to anything that grabs you, and then, with an open mind, go at it and explore it.

1981 — From 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out'
Humorous Unverifiable

Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there.

1965 — From 'The Character of Physical Law'
Humorous Unverifiable

I object to having my fun regulated.

1985 — From 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!'
Humorous Unverifiable