Charles Hard Townes quotes

I feel that very rarely have I done any work in my life. I have a good time. I'm exploring. I'm playing a game, solving puzzles, and having fun, and for some reason people have been willing to pay me for it. Officially, I was supposed to retire years ago, but retire from what? Why stop having a good time? (Charles Hard Townes)
The development of science is basically a social phenomenon, dependent on hard work and mutual support of many scientists and on the societies in which they live. View quote
Charles Hard Townes
It's a fantastically specialized universe, but how in the world did it happen? View quote
Charles Hard Townes
The imposing edifice of science provides a challenging view of what can be achieved by the accumulation of many small efforts in a steady objective and dedicated search for truth. View quote
Charles Hard Townes
In many cases, people who win a Nobel prize, their work slows down after that because of the distractions. Yes, fame is rewarding, but it's a pity if it keeps you from doing the work you are good at. View quote
Charles Hard Townes
I was very eager to produce an oscillator for short waves. I was doing science with microwaves, and I would get down to a few millimetres in wavelength, but I wanted to get shorter wavelengths; I wanted to get into the infra-red because I saw there was a lot more to be done there. View quote
Charles Hard Townes
Science is exploration. The fundamental nature of exploration is that we don't know what's there. We can guess and hope and aim to find out certain things, but we have to expect surprises. View quote
Charles Hard Townes
We can't avoid age. However, we can avoid some aging. Continue to do things. Be active. Life is fantastic in the way it adjusts to demands; if you use your muscles and mind, they stay there much longer. View quote
Charles Hard Townes
Much public thinking follows a rut. The same thing is true in science. People get stuck and don't look in other directions. View quote
Charles Hard Townes