Lord Kelvin
Lord Kelvin
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin OM GCVO PC PRS FRSEwas an Irish and Scottish mathematical physicist and engineer who was born in Belfast in 1824. At the University of Glasgow he did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging discipline of physics in its modern form. He worked closely with mathematics professor Hugh Blackburn in his work. He also had a career...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth26 June 1824
CountryIreland
Lord Kelvin quotes about
Do not be afraid of being free thinkers! If you think strongly enough you will be forced by science to the belief in God, which is the foundation of all religion. You will find science not antagonistic but helpful to religion.
If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.
When you are face to face with a difficulty, you are up against a discovery.
Radio has no future." "X-rays are clearly a hoax". "The aeroplane is scientifically impossible.
The atheistic idea is so nonsensical that I do not see how I can put it in words.
Vortices of pure energy can exist and, if my theories are right, can compose the bodily form of an intelligent species.
All of science can be divided into physics and stamp-collecting.
Scientific wealth tends to accumulate according to the law of compound interest. Every addition to knowledge of the properties of matter supplies the physical scientist with new instrumental means for discovering and interpreting phenomena of nature, which in their turn afford foundations of fresh generalisations, bringing gains of permanent value into the great storehouse of natural philosophy.
I have not had a moment's peace or happiness in respect to electromagnetic theory since November 28, 1846. All this time I have been liable to fits of ether dipsomania, kept away at intervals only by rigorous abstention from thought on the subject.
[Of the ether] it is no greater mystery at all events than the shoemakers' wax.
To live among friends is the primary essential of happiness.
Mathematics is the only true metaphysics.
Mathematics is the only good metaphysics.
Do not imagine that mathematics is harsh and crabbed, and repulsive to common sense. It is merely the etherealisation of common sense.