I'm not creating the universe. I'm creating a model of the universe, which may or may not be true.

I considered going into business or becoming a lawyer - not for the money, but for the thrill of problem-solving.

Sometimes models are surprisingly smart.

Speculation and the exploration of ideas beyond what we know with certainty are what lead to progress.

Physics has entered a remarkable era. Ideas that were once the realm of science fiction are now entering our theoretical — and maybe even experimental — grasp. Brand-new theoretical discoveries about extra dimensions have irreversibly changed how particle physicists, astrophysicists, and cosmologists now think about the world. The sheer number and pace of discoveries tells us that we've most likely only scratched the surface of the wondrous possibilities that lie in store. Ideas have taken on a life of their own.

Our hypotheses are initially rooted in theoretical consistency and elegance, but...ultimatel y it is experiment not rigid belief that determines what is correct.

Physicists have yet to understand why the Higgs boson's mass is what it is.