Refining is inevitable in science when you have made measurements of a phenomenon for a long period of time.

Refining is inevitable in science when you have made measurements of a phenomenon for a long period of time.

[In plotting earthquake measurements] the range between the largest and smallest magnitudes seemed unmanageably large. Dr. Beno Gutenberg then made the natural suggestion to plot the amplitudes logarithmically.

In every area of the world where there is earthquake risk, there are still many buildings of this type; it is very frustrating to try to get rid of them.

It is a common remark that men talk most who think least; just as frogs cease their quacking when a light is brought to the water-side.

I was lucky because logarithmic plots are a device of the devil.

Nothing is less predictable than the development of an active scientific field.