Freeman Dyson Quotes

A collection of quotes by Freeman Dyson.

Freeman Dyson (1923-2020) was a renowned British-American theoretical physicist and mathematician. Born on December 15, 1923, in Crowthorne, England, Dyson made significant contributions to various fields such as quantum mechanics, mathematics, and nuclear physics during his illustrious career.

In 1943, Dyson relocated to the United States, eventually becoming a naturalized citizen. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge and went on to study physics at Cornell University. Dyson worked on the theory of quantum electrodynamics, collaborating with renowned physicists such as Richard Feynman and Julian Schwinger.

Throughout his career, Dyson also made significant contributions to nuclear engineering, advocating for research into peaceful applications of atomic energy. He proposed the concept of the Orion spacecraft, which utilized nuclear propulsion, and explored ideas related to astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Dyson wrote numerous scientific papers and books, including his groundbreaking work "Disturbing the Universe." Known for his interdisciplinary approach, he was highly respected for his ability to bridge the gap between disciplines and offer unique insights.

Freeman Dyson's contributions to science were widely recognized, earning him numerous prestigious awards and honors. He passed away on February 28, 2020, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a brilliant scientist and visionary thinker.

The purpose of thinking about the future is not to predict i

The purpose of thinking about the future is not to predict it but to raise people's hopes.

I am acutely aware of the fact that the marriage between mat

I am acutely aware of the fact that the marriage between mathematics and physics which was so enormously fruitful in past centuries, has recently ended in divorce.

Science

A good cause can become bad if we fight for it with means th

A good cause can become bad if we fight for it with means that are indiscriminately murderous. A bad cause can become good if enough people fight for it in a spirit of comradeship and self-sacrifice. In the end it is how you fight, as much as why you fight, that makes your cause good or bad.

Reason

There is a great satisfaction in building good tools for oth

There is a great satisfaction in building good tools for other people to use.

Tools

It's better to get mugged than to live a life of fear.

It's better to get mugged than to live a life of fear.

Fear

We have no reason to think that climate change is harmful if

We have no reason to think that climate change is harmful if you look at the world as a whole. Most places, in fact, are better off being warmer than being colder. And historically, the really bad times for the environment and for people have been the cold periods rather than the warm periods.

Change

What the world needs is a small, compact, flexible fusion te

What the world needs is a small, compact, flexible fusion technology that could make electricity where and when it is needed. The existing fusion program is leading to a huge source of centralized power, at a price that nobody except a government can afford.

Government

It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they ar

It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they are not to be approached without some humor and some bewilderment.

Humor

I have the freedom to do what I want... bright people to tal

I have the freedom to do what I want... bright people to talk to every day.

Freedom

Lucky individuals in each generation find technology appropr

Lucky individuals in each generation find technology appropriate to their needs.

Technology

Unfortunately things are different in climate science becaus

Unfortunately things are different in climate science because the arguments have become heavily politicised. To say that the dogmas are wrong has become politically incorrect.

Science

A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good eng

A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering.

Design

The world of science and the world of literature have much i

The world of science and the world of literature have much in common. Each is an international club, helping to tie mankind together across barriers of nationality, race and language. I have been doubly lucky, being accepted as a member of both.

Science

It has become part of the accepted wisdom to say that the tw

It has become part of the accepted wisdom to say that the twentieth century was the century of physics and the twenty-first century will be the century of biology.

Wisdom

Unfortunately the global warming hysteria, as I see it, is d

Unfortunately the global warming hysteria, as I see it, is driven by politics more than by science.

Politics

I see a bright future for the biotechnology industry when it

I see a bright future for the biotechnology industry when it follows the path of the computer industry, the path that von Neumann failed to foresee, becoming small and domesticated rather than big and centralized.

Future

Technology is a gift of God. After the gift of life it is pe

Technology is a gift of God. After the gift of life it is perhaps the greatest of God's gifts. It is the mother of civilizations, of arts and of sciences.

God

The question that will decide our destiny is not whether we

The question that will decide our destiny is not whether we shall expand into space. It is: shall we be one species or a million? A million species will not exhaust the ecological niches that are awaiting the arrival of intelligence.

Intelligence

Biology is now bigger than physics, as measured by the size

Biology is now bigger than physics, as measured by the size of budgets, by the size of the workforce, or by the output of major discoveries and biology is likely to remain the biggest part of science through the twenty-first century.

Science