The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as we talked about the laser that the way to tell a great idea is that, when people hear it, they say, 'Gee, I could have thought of that.'
Charles Hard TownesIt's almost a sort of fairy story tale, just what a novelist would write about a discovery.
Charles Hard TownesMuch public thinking follows a rut. The same thing is true in science. People get stuck and don't look in other directions.
Charles Hard TownesThe beaver told the rabbit as they stared at the Hoover Dam: No, I didn't build it myself, but it's based on an idea of mine
Charles Hard TownesAt least this is the way I see it. I am a physicist. I also consider myself a Christian. As I try to understand the nature of our universe in these two modes of thinking, I see many commonalities and crossovers between science and religion. It seems logical that in the long run the two will even converge.
Charles Hard TownesScience, with its experiments and logic, tries to understand the order or structure of the universe. Religion, with its theological inspiration and reflection, tries to understand the purpose or meaning of the universe. These two are cross-related. Purpose implies structure, and structure ought somehow to be interpretable in terms of purpose.
Charles Hard Townes