We 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.

[Of the ether] it is no greater mystery at all events than the shoemakers' wax.

There cannot be a greater mistake than that of looking superciliously upon practical applications of science. The life and soul of science is its practical application.

I have not had a moment's peace or happiness in respect to electromagnetic theory since November 28, 1846. All this time I have been liable to fits of ether dipsomania, kept away at intervals only by rigorous abstention from thought on the subject.

When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it.

Large increases in cost with questionable increases in performance can be tolerated only in race horses and fancy women.

Science is bound, by the everlasting vow of honour, to face fearlessly every problem which can be fairly presented to it.