Those who are not shocked when they first come across quantum theory cannot possibly have understood it.
Interpretation
Understanding quantum theory is inherently surprising and complex.
Niels Bohrβs quote suggests that if one is not astonished by the intricacies and counterintuitive nature of quantum theory, they have not fully grasped its profound implications. The statement emphasizes the need for a deep engagement with the material, as true comprehension involves confronting the unexpected and often bewildering principles that govern the quantum world.
In practice
In a physics class to illustrate the complexities of quantum mechanics.
When asked ... [about] an underlying quantum world, Bohr would answer, 'There is no quantum world. There is only an abstract quantum physical description. It is wrong to think that the task of physics is to find out how nature is. Physics concerns what we can say about Nature.'
An independant reality in the ordinary physical sense can neither be ascribed to the phenomenon nor to the agencies of observation.
An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field.
When searching for harmony in life one must never forget that in the drama of existence we are ourselves both actors and spectators.
And anyone who thinks they can talk about quantum theory without feeling dizzy hasn't yet understood the first thing about it.
Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.
Whoever wishes to investigate medicine should proceed thus: In the first place, consider the seasons of the year and what effect each of them produces.
I am no poet, but if you think for yourselves, as I proceed, the facts will form a poem in your minds.
Instead of planning the retirement of the Space Shuttle program, America should be preparing the shuttles for their next step in space: evolving, not shutting them down and laying off thousands of people.
Chimps can do all sorts of things we thought that only we could do - like tool-making and abstraction and generalisation. They can learn a language - sign language - and they can use the signs. But when you think of our intellects, even the brightest chimp looks like a very small child.
Necessity is the mother of all invention.
The way life manages information involves a logical structure that differs fundamentally from mere complex chemistry. Therefore chemistry alone will not explain life's origin, any more than a study of silicon, copper and plastic will explain how a computer can execute a program.
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