19 quotes
The whole subject-matter of exact science consists of pointer readings and similar indications.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Proof is the idol before whom the pure mathematician tortures himself.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Schrödinger's wave-mechanics is not a physical theory, but a dodge — and a very good dodge too.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
The quest of the absolute leads into the four-dimensional world.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Shuffling is the only thing which Nature cannot undo.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Never mind what two tons refers to. What is it?
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Only here and there does it arise to the level of consciousness, but from such islands proceeds all knowledge. The latter includes our knowledge of the physical world.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
In the world of physics we watch a shadowgraph performance of the drama of familiar life.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Einstein's law of gravitation controls a geometrical quantity curvature in contrast to Newton's law which controls a mechanical quantity of force.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
The man in the street is always making this demand for concrete explanation of the things referred to in science; but of necessity he must be disappointed.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
There was just one alternative, the earth’s true velocity through space might happen to have been nil.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
It is difficult for the matter-of-fact physicist to accept the view that the substratum of everything is of mental character. But no one can deny that mind is the first and most direct thing in our experience, and all else is remote inference — inference either intuitive or deliberate.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
The Newtonian scheme says that the planet tends to move in a straight line, but the sun's gravity pulls it away. Einstein says that the planet tends to take the shortest route and does take it.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
The mind-stuff is not spread in space and time. But we must presume that in some other way or aspect it can be differentiated into parts. Only here and there does it arise to the level of consciousness, but from such islands proceeds all knowledge. The latter includes our knowledge of the physical world.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
The external world of physics has thus become a world of shadows. In removing our illusions we have removed the substance, for indeed we have seen that substance is one of the greatest of our illusions.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Consciousness is not sharply defined, but fades into sub-consciousness; and beyond that we must postulate something indefinite but yet continuous with our mental nature. This I take it be the world-stuff.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
If I let my fingers wander idly over the keys of a typewriter it might happen that my screed made an intelligible sentence. If an army of monkeys were strumming on typewriters they might write all the books in the British Museum. The chance of their doing so is decidedly more favourable than the chance of the molecules returning to one half of the vessel.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
The idealistic tinge in my conception of the physical world arose out of mathematical researches on the relativity theory. In so far as I had any earlier philosophical views, they were of an entirely different complexion.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)
Light-waves in passing a massive body such as the sun are deflected through a small angle. This is additional evidence that the Newtonian picture of gravitation as a tug is inadequate. You cannot deflect waves by tugging at them, and clearly another representation of the agency which deflects them must be found.
The Nature of the Physical World (1928)