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Astounding Science-Related Quotes
The pace of scientific and technological progress is amazing. But as these incredible quotes show, even scientists underestimate this potential.
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1.
Airplanes
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." - Marechal
Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre, 1911
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2.
Flying Machine
"It is apparent to me that the possibilities of the aeroplane, which two
or three years ago were thought to hold the solution to the (flying
machine) problem, have been exhausted, and that we must turn elsewhere." - Thomas Edison, 1895
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3.
Astronomy
"We are probably nearing the limit of all we can know about astronomy." -
Simon Newcomb, astronomer, 1888
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4.
Alternating Current
"Fooling around with alternating current is just a waste of time. Nobody
will use it, ever." - Thomas Edison, 1889
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5.
Future Discoveries
"The more important fundamental laws and facts of physical science have
all been discovered, and these are now so firmly established that the
possibility of their ever being supplanted in consequence of new
discoveries is exceedingly remote... Our future discoveries must be
looked for in the sixth place of decimals." - physicist Albert. A. Michelson, 1894
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6.
Drill For Oil
"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil?
You're crazy." - Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his
project to drill for oil in 1859.
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7.
Unknown Lands
"..so many centuries after the Creation it is unlikely that anyone could
find hitherto unknown lands of any value." - committee advising Ferdinand
and Isabella regarding Columbus' proposal, 1486
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8.
Wireless Music Box
"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who
would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" - David
Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the
radio in the 1920s.
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9.
Nuclear Energy
"There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be
obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at
will." - Albert Einstein, 1932
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