That which is not measurable is not science. That which is not physics is stamp collecting.
Ernest RutherfordRead
I have to keep going, as there are always people on my track. I have to publish my present work as rapidly as possible in order to keep in the race. The best sprinters in this road of investigation are Becquerel and the Curies.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the urgency of progress in scientific research amidst competition.
Ernest Rutherford underscores the relentless nature of scientific advancement where researchers must continually publish their findings to stay relevant and in competition with others like Becquerel and the Curies. This reflects both the pressure to contribute to the field and the importance of rapid dissemination of knowledge in scientific communities.
Themes
ScienceCompetitionPublishProgressResearch
In practice
Example use cases
In a scientific conference to motivate peers to share their research promptly.
More from Ernest Rutherford
All quotes →The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine.
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I am a great believer in the simplicity of things and as you probably know I am inclined to hang on to broad & simple ideas like grim death until evidence is too strong for my tenacity.
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All science is either physics or stamp collecting.
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Now I know what the atom looks like.
Ernest RutherfordRead
If your result needs a statistician then you should design a better experiment.
Ernest RutherfordRead
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