Do not imagine that mathematics is hard and crabbed, and repulsive to common sense. It is merely the etherealization of common sense.
Lord KelvinRead
There is nothing new to be discovered in physics now. All that remains is more and more precise measurement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that the fundamental principles of physics have been established, and future advancements will focus on refining measurements rather than discovering new concepts.
Lord Kelvin's quote reflects the idea that the core discoveries in physics have been made, emphasizing a shift in scientific focus towards improving the precision of measurements rather than uncovering new laws or phenomena. It highlights the importance of measurement accuracy in the scientific process, suggesting that further knowledge will depend on the meticulous analysis and refinement of existing principles.
Themes
PhysicsMeasurementScienceDiscoveryPrecision
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on the evolution of scientific understanding, this quote can illustrate the shift from theory to measurement.
More from Lord Kelvin
All quotes βWe only know God in His works, but we are forced by science to admit and to believe with absolute confidence in a Directive Power-in an influence other than physical, or dynamical, or electrical forces.
Lord KelvinRead
In science there is only physics; all the rest is stamp collecting.
Lord KelvinRead
Let nobody be afraid of true freedom of thought. Let us be free in thought and criticism; but, with freedom, we are bound to come to the conclusion that science is not antagonistic to religion, but a help to it.
Lord KelvinRead
I need scarcely say that the beginning and maintenance of life on earth is absolutely and infinitely beyond the range of all sound speculation in dynamical science. The only contribution of dynamics to theoretical biology is absolute negation of automatic commencement or automatic maintenance of life.
Lord KelvinRead
Science is bound, by the everlasting vow of honour, to face fearlessly every problem which can be fairly presented to it.
Lord KelvinRead
Similar quotes
One lesson astronomy tells us is that we're a tiny mote in a hostile void, and help is too far away.
Sandra FaberRead
Like the entomologist in search of colorful butterflies, my attention has chased in the gardens of the grey matter cells with delicate and elegant shapes, the mysterious butterflies of the soul, whose beating of wings may one day reveal to us the secrets of the mind.
Santiago Ramon Y CajalRead
This new power, which has proved itself to be such a terrifying weapon of destruction, is harnessed for the first time for the common good of our community.
Queen Elizabeth IiRead
The great tragedy of science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.
Thomas HuxleyRead
Receiving the National Medal of Science is the thrill of a lifetime, but good science does not happen in isolation.
Sandra FaberRead
Geology has shared the fate of other infant sciences, in being for a while considered hostile to revealed religion; so like them, when fully understood, it will be found a potent and consistent auxiliary to it, exalting our conviction of the Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness of the Creator.
William BucklandRead