I have been asked whether I would agree that the tragedy of the scientist is that he is able to bring about great advances in our knowledge, which mankind may then proceed to use for purposes of destruction. My answer is that this is not the tragedy of the scientist; it is the tragedy of mankind.

We turned the switch, saw the flashes, watched for ten minutes, then switched everything off and went home. That night I knew the world was headed for sorrow.

Don't lie if you don't have to.

If one knows only what one is told, one does not know enough to be able to arrive at a well-balanced decision.

Pronouncement of experts to the effect that something cannot be done has always irritated me.

I'm all in favor of the democratic principle that one idiot is as good as one genius, but I draw the line when someone takes the next step and concludes that two idiots are better than one genius.

In science it is not enough to think of an important problem on which to work. It is also necessary to know the means which could be used to investigate the problem.