Quotes from Leo Szilard

A scientist's aim in a discussion with his colleagues is not to persuade, but to clarify.

A man's clarity of judgment is never very good when you're involved, and as you grow older, and as you grow more involved, your clarity of judgement suffers.

I am thinking of keeping a diary, not with the intend to publish it, merely to record the facts for the information of God, in case God does not know my version of the facts.

We turned the switch, saw the flashes, watched for ten minutes, then switched everything off and went home. That night I knew the world was headed for sorrow.

You may assume infinite ignorance and unlimited intelligence.

If one knows only what one is told, one does not know enough to be able to arrive at a well-balanced decision.

Three stages of truth for scientists: It's not true. If it is true, it's not very important. We knew it all along.

Pronouncement of experts to the effect that something cannot be done has always irritated me.

In order to succeed, it is not necessary to be much cleverer than other people. All you have to be is one day ahead of them.

I'm all in favor of the democratic principle that one idiot is as good as one genius, but I draw the line when someone takes the next step and concludes that two idiots are better than one genius.

If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier.

Three stages of truth for scientists: (1) It's not true. (2) If it is true, it's not very important. (3) We knew it all along.

Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into solitude or among strangers, so that the memory of your friends does not hinder you from being what you have become.

If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier.

Don't lie if you don't have to.