That which is not measurable is not science. That which is not physics is stamp collecting.
Ernest RutherfordRead
I must confess it was very unexpected and I am very startled at my metamorphosis into a chemist.
Interpretation
Ernest Rutherford expresses surprise at his transformation into a chemist, highlighting the unexpected nature of personal change and development.
In this quote, Ernest Rutherford reflects on his unexpected journey into the field of chemistry, illustrating that personal evolutions often occur without prior anticipation. His sentiment captures the essence of how life can lead us down unforeseen paths, challenging our initial perceptions and allowing growth into roles we might not have initially envisioned for ourselves.
In practice
During a science conference, I could use this quote to express how my career path took an unexpected turn.
That which is not measurable is not science. That which is not physics is stamp collecting.
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.
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.
All science is either physics or stamp collecting.
Now I know what the atom looks like.
If your result needs a statistician then you should design a better experiment.
Strange as it may sound, the power of mathematics rests on its evasion of all unnecessary thought and on its wonderful saving of mental operations.
Chemistry... is like the maid occupied with daily civilisation; she is busy with fertilisers, medicines, glass, insecticides ... for she dispenses the recipes.
[Bacteria are the] dark matter of the biological world [with 4 million mostly unknown species in a ton of soil].
I took biology in high school and didn't like it at all. It was focused on memorization. ... I didn't appreciate that biology also had principles and logic ... [rather than dealing with a] messy thing called life. It just wasn't organized, and I wanted to stick with the nice pristine sciences of chemistry and physics, where everything made sense. I wish I had learned sooner that biology could be fun as well.
Scientific discovery may not be better than sex, but the satisfaction lasts longer.
During the Middle Ages there were all kinds of crazy ideas, such as that a piece of rhinoceros horn would increase potency. Then a method was discovered for separating the ideas - which was to try one to see if it worked, and if it didn't work, to eliminate it. This method became organized, of course, into science.
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