22 Werner Heisenberg Quotes for You to Enjoy

Werner Heisenberg

German Physicist

Born: Dec 5, 1901

Died: Feb 1, 1976

Nature Science Time War Work Would

Related authors: Albert Einstein Gerhard Herzberg Hans Adolf Krebs Hermann von Helmholtz Karl Ferdinand Braun Klaus Fuchs Walther Bothe Wolfgang Ketterle

What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning. Werner Heisenberg

Nature Our Observe Method Questioning Itself Exposed

Every word or concept, clear as it may seem to be, has only a limited range of applicability. Werner Heisenberg

Word Every Range Seem Only Clear Concept Limited May

Certainly, in the course of time, the splendid things will separate from the hateful. Werner Heisenberg

Time Will Hateful Splendid Course Separate Certainly Things

It is true that in quantum theory we cannot rely on strict causality. But by repeating the experiments many times, we can finally derive from the observations statistical distributions, and by repeating such series of experiments, we can arrive at objective statements concerning these distributions. Werner Heisenberg

It is seen that both matter and radiation possess a remarkable duality of character, as they sometimes exhibit the properties of waves, at other times those of particles. Now, it is obvious that a thing cannot be a form of wave motion and composed of particles at the same time - the two concepts are too different. Werner Heisenberg

Time Character Sometimes Matter Seen Too Other Wave Waves Possess Those Composed Properties Both Remarkable Particles Concepts Obvious Duality Motion Exhibit Times Same Same Time Different Form Cannot Radiation Now Thing Two

The German physicists knew at least so much about the manufacture and construction of atomic bombs that it was clear to them that the manufacture of bombs in Germany could not succeed during the war. For this reason, they were spared the moral decision whether they should make an atomic bomb, and they had only worked on the uranium engine. Werner Heisenberg

War Construction Decision Moral About Atomic Atomic Bomb Only Physicists Could Had Clear Knew Make Least Were German Germany Whether Uranium Succeed Them Spared Worked Much Should Engine Manufacture Reason Bomb Bombs

The uncertainty principle refers to the degree of indeterminateness in the possible present knowledge of the simultaneous values of various quantities with which the quantum theory deals; it does not restrict, for example, the exactness of a position measurement alone or a velocity measurement alone. Werner Heisenberg

Alone Knowledge Measurement Values Degree Example Possible Restrict Uncertainty Various Simultaneous Velocity For Example Principle Quantities Quantum Does Deals Which Theory Present Position

In America, it was decided to attempt the production of atomic bombs with an effort that would constitute a large part of the collective American war effort. In Germany, an effort one thousandth the scale of the American was applied to the problem of producing atomic energy that would drive engines. Werner Heisenberg

War Problem Collective Drive Energy Scale Would Constitute Atomic Atomic Energy Attempt Part Germany Effort America American Decided War Effort Producing Production Engines Large Large Part Bombs Applied

I would say that I was absolutely convinced of the possibility of our making an uranium engine, but I never thought that we would make a bomb; and at the bottom of my heart, I was really glad that it was to be an engine and not a bomb. Werner Heisenberg

Heart Thought Our Say Possibility Would Glad Absolutely Never Bottom Make Making Uranium Really Convinced Engine Bomb

The violent reaction on the recent development of modern physics can only be understood when one realises that here the foundations of physics have started moving; and that this motion has caused the feeling that the ground would be cut from science. Werner Heisenberg

One may say that in a state of science where fundamental concepts have to be changed, tradition is both the condition for progress and a hindrance. Hence, it usually takes a long time before the new concepts are generally accepted. Werner Heisenberg

Reports in Washington show that our reasoning was just like that of your physicists. With all this information available, at least to privileged persons, I cannot understand why it is generally held in the United States that we completely missed the basic principle of the bomb until after Hiroshima. Werner Heisenberg

Our States Physicists Generally Missed Like Until Principle Understand Least Hiroshima Privileged Reports Just After Cannot Information Available Persons Held Your Show Reasoning Washington United Bomb Why United States Basic

There is a great difference between discoveries and inventions. With discoveries, one can always be skeptical, and many surprises can take place. In the case of inventions, surprises can really only occur for people who have not had anything to do with it. Werner Heisenberg

Great People Case Only Inventions Take Had Between Always Occur Surprises Discoveries Difference Anything Place Skeptical Really Who Many

I believe this uranium business will give the Anglo-Saxons such tremendous power that Europe will become a bloc under Anglo-Saxon domination. If that is the case, it will be a very good thing. I wonder whether Stalin will be able to stand up to the others as he has done in the past. Werner Heisenberg

Good Business Will Power Become Past Believe Others Tremendous Able Case Give Anglo-Saxon Good Thing He Up Very Wonder Domination Done In The Past Whether Uranium Stalin Stand Stand Up Europe Thing

The Anglo-Americans want the balance of power in Eurasia. The only balance of power they can achieve now is the whole of Europe against Russia. The only choice for us is either to join this Western European bloc or join in with Russia. Werner Heisenberg

Balance Achieve Power Russia Only Join Balance Of Power Western Want Either Against Us Choice Europe European Whole Now

I think that if a United States of Europe were to be formed, it would be in our interests to fight for it, as all our old traditions would remain in such a united Europe, whereas if we were to start now as part of the Russian Empire, everything that had ever been in Germany would disappear. Werner Heisenberg

Fight Old Think Our Everything States Would Would-Be Russian Remain Had Part Disappear Empire Were Been Traditions Germany Whereas Formed Interests Europe Now United Ever United States Start

In 1924, I became a Dozent in Gottingen and worked out the quantum mechanics during a holiday stay on Heligoland. Werner Heisenberg

Out Stay Became Quantum Quantum Mechanics Holiday Worked Mechanics

For Germany, the war was like an end game in chess in which she possessed one castle less than her adversary. The loss of the war was as certain as the loss of an end game under these conditions. Werner Heisenberg

War Game Possessed Castle Like Adversary She Chess Loss Conditions End Germany Than Which Certain Less Her

Werner Heisenberg Quotes

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