Quotes

Philosophy

The assertion that the truth is here, and that an end has been made of ignorance and error, is one of the greatest seductions that there is. Assuming that one believes it, then the will to test, investigate, predict, experiment, is crippled: the latter can itself become wanton, can doubt the truth. The 'truth' is consequently more minous than error and ignorance because it binds the forces with which one can work for enlightenment and knowledge.

- Nietzsche, quoted by Philipp Frank

Science/Mathematics

We must not be surprised, therefore, that, so to speak, all physicists of the last century saw in classical mechanics a firm and final foundation for all physics, yes, indeed, for all natural science, and that they never grew tired in their attempts to base Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism, which, in the meantime, was slowly beginning to win out, upon mechanics as well. Even Maxwell and Hertz, who in retropect, appear as those who demolished the faith in mechanics as the final basis of all physical thinking, in their conscious thinking adhered throughout to mechanics as the secured basis of physics. It was Ernst Mach, who, in his History of Mechanics, shook this dogmatic faith; this book exercised a profound influence upon me in this regard while I was a student. I see Mach's greatness in his incorruptible skepticism and independence; in my younger years, however, Mach's epistemological position also influenced me very greatly, a position which today appears to me to be essentially untenable.

... as Sir Cyril Hinshelwood has observed ... fluid dynamicists were divided into hydraulic engineers who observed things that could not be explained and mathematicians who explained things that could not be observed.

- James Lighthill

... the progress of physics will to a large extent depend on the progress of nonlinear mathematics, of methods to solve nonlinear equations ... and therefore we can learn by comparing different nonlinear problems.

- Werner Heisenberg

Our present analytical methods seem unsuitable for the solution of the important problems arising in connection with nonlinear partial differential equations and, in fact, with virtually all types of nonlinear problems in pure mathematics. The truth of this statement is particularly striking in the field of fluid dynamics...

- John von Neumann

However varied may be the imagination of man, nature is a thousand times richer, ... Each of the theories of physics ... presents (partial differential) equations under a new aspect ... without these theories, we should not know partial differential equations.

- Henri Poincare

Since a general solution must be judged impossible from want of analysis, we must be content with the knowledge of some special cases, and that all the more, since the development of various cases seems to be the only way to bringing us at last to a more perfect knowledge.

- Leonard Euler

Truth

"For the great enemy of truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the clichés of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."

JFK Yale University graduating class speech (June 11, 1962) [1]

Energy

Source: http://www.deathofagasguzzler.com/page/quotes-1

We will lay the foundation for our future capacity to meet America’s energy needs from America’s own resources.

- President Richard Nixon, 1974

We cannot afford continued delays. We cannot afford prolonged vulnerability to foreign producers. We must act.

- President Gerald Ford, 1975

We are the generation that will win the war on the energy problem and in that process, rebuild the unity and confidence of America.

- President Jimmy Carter, 1979

Energy independence is the best preparation America can make for the future.

- President Ronald Reagan, 1982

The Congress should…enact measures to increase domestic energy production and energy conservation - in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

- President George H. W. Bush, 1990

We have it in our power to act right here, right now. I propose $6 billion in tax cuts and research and developments to encourage innovation, renewable energy, fuel-efficient cars, and energy-efficient homes.

- President Bill Clinton, 1998

We have got to do something about our dependence on oil - for two reasons. (It) provides an economic and national security risk… and… makes it harder to be wise stewards of the environment.

- President George W. Bush, 2007

I think that in ten years, we can reduce our dependence so that we no longer have to import oil from the Middle East or Venezuela. I think that’s about a realistic timeframe… That’s why I’ve focused on putting resources into solar, wind, biodiesel, geothermal. These have been priorities of mine since I got to the Senate, and it is absolutely critical that we develop a high fuel efficient car that’s built not in Japan and not in South Korea, but built here in the United States of America.

- President Barack Obama, 2008

That’s why I’ve called for an investment of $15 billion a year over 10 years. Our goal should be, in 10 year’s time, we are free of dependence on Middle Eastern oil. And we can do it. Now, when JFK said we’re going to the Moon in 10 years, nobody was sure how to do it, but we understood that, if the American people make a decision to do something, it gets done. So that would be priority number one.

- President Barack Obama, 2008