Ernest Rutherford Quotes

All of physics is either impossible or trivial. It is impossible until you understand it, and then it becomes trivial.

Never say, "I tried it once and it did not work."

A theory that you can't explain to a bartender is probably no damn good.

An alleged scientific discovery has no merit unless it can be explained to a barmaid.

We haven't got the money, so we've got to think.

It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came back and hit you.

If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment.

The only possible conclusion the social sciences can draw is: some do, some don't.

All science is either physics or stamp collecting.

I must confess it was very unexpected and I am very startled at my metamorphosis into a chemist.

Now I know what the atom looks like.

The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine.

I am a great believer in the simplicity of things and as you probably know I am inclined to hang on to broad & simple ideas like grim death until evidence is too strong for my tenacity.

We are rather like children, who must take a watch to pieces to see how it works.

Gentlemen, we have run out of money. It is time to start thinking.

The more physics you have the less engineering you need.

I've just finished reading some of my early papers, and you know, when I'd finished I said to myself, 'Rutherford, my boy, you used to be a damned clever fellow.' (1911)

Gentlemen, now you will see that now you see nothing. And why you see nothing you will see presently.

You should never bet against anything in science at odds of more than about 10-12 to 1.

It is essential for men of science to take an interest in the administration of their own affairs or else the professional civil servant will step in - and then the Lord help you.

That which is not measurable is not science. That which is not physics is stamp collecting.

The great object is to find the theory of the matter [of X-rays] before anyone else, for nearly every professor in Europe is now on the warpath.

If your result needs a statistician then you should design a better experiment.

Don't let me catch anyone talking about the Universe in my department.

If, as I have reason to believe, I have disintegrated the nucleus of the atom, this is of greater significance than the war.

All scientific men will be delighted to extend their warmest congratulations to Tesla and to express their appreciation of his great contributions to science.

A good scientific theory should be explicable to a barmaid.

You know, I am sorry for the poor fellows that haven't got labs to work in.

You should never bet against anything in science at odds of more than about 1012 to 1.

If, as I have reason to believe, I have disintegrated the nucleus of the atom, this is of greater significance than th

If your experiment needs a statistician, you need a better experiment.

It was quite the most incredible event that has ever happened to me in my life. It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came back and hi