Quotes from Niels Bohr

If you aren't confused by quantum mechanics, you haven't really understood it.

While the finish given to our picture of the world by the theory of relativity has already been absorbed into the general scientific consciousness, this has scarcely occurred to the same extent with those aspects of the general problem of knowledge which have been elucidated by the quantum theory.

Every valuable human being must be a radical and a rebel, for what he must aim at is to make things better than they are.

There are two sorts of truth: trivialities, where opposites are clearly absurd, and profound truths, recognised by the fact that the opposite is also a profound truth

Oh what idiots we have all been, this is just as it must be

Opposites are not contradictory but complementary.

Every description of natural processes must be based on ideas which have been introduced and defined by the classical theory.

Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.

Technology has advanced more in the last thirty years than in the previous two thousand. The exponential increase in advancement will only continue.

Sometimes the child in one behaves a certain way and the rest of oneself follows behind, slowly shaking its head.

In the great drama of existence we are audience and actors at the same time.

How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of making progress.

A deep truth is a truth so deep that not only is it true but it's exact opposite is also true.

It is the hallmark of any deep truth that its negation is also a deep truth.

There are trivial truths and the great truths. The opposite of a trivial truth is plainly false. The opposite of a great truth is also true.

Truth and clarity are complementary.

The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.

Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.

There are trivial truths and there are great truths. The opposite of a trivial truth is plainly false. The opposite of a great truth is also true.

There are some things so serious you have to laugh at them.

An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes, which can be made, in a very narrow field.

Of course I don't believe in it [pointing to horseshoe on his office wall]. But I understand that it brings you luck whether you believe in it or not.

If quantum mechanics hasn't profoundly shocked you, you haven't understood it yet.

Humanity will... be confronted with dangers of unprecedented character unless, in due time, measures can be taken to forestall a disastrous competition in such formidable armaments and to establish an international control of the manufacture and use of the powerful materials.