Norbert Wiener Quotes

A collection of quotes by Norbert Wiener.

Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) was an American mathematician and philosopher, known as the founder of cybernetics, a field exploring the connection between control systems, communication, and biology. Born in Columbia, Missouri, Wiener showed exceptional mathematical talent from a young age. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University at the age of 18, and his groundbreaking work on stochastic and mathematical systems theory laid the foundation for his later development of cybernetics. Wiener's ideas had a profound impact on various disciplines, such as engineering, computer science, biology, and social sciences, making him a pioneer of interdisciplinary research.

A faith which we follow upon orders imposed from outside is

A faith which we follow upon orders imposed from outside is no faith, and a community which puts its dependence upon such a pseudo-faith is ultimately bound to ruin itself because of the paralysis which the lack of a healthy growing science imposes upon it.

Science Faith Order Community Ruins

We are in the position of the man who has only two ambitions

We are in the position of the man who has only two ambitions in life. One is to invent the universal solvent which will dissolve any solid substance, and the second is to invent the universal container which will hold any liquid. Whatever this inventor does, he will be frustrated.

Life Man Ambition

The idea that information can be stored in a changing world

The idea that information can be stored in a changing world without an overwhelming depreciation of its value is false. It is scarcely less false than the more plausible claim that after a war we may take our existing weapons, fill their barrels with information.

Information