Robert Andrews Millikan Quotes

#1. Two erroneous impressions ... seem to be current among certain groups of uninformed persons. The first is that religion today stands for mediaeval theology; the second that science is materialistic and irreligious.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#2. Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement of human wants.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#3. Perhaps the Mad Hatter had a reason for calling time Him.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#4. The pathetic thing about it is that many scientists are trying to prove the doctrine of evolution, which no science can do.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#5. The chemist in America has in general been content with what I have called a loafer electron theory. He has imagined the electrons sitting around on dry goods boxes at every corner [viz. the cubic atom], ready to shake hands with, or hold on to similar loafer electrons in other atoms.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#6. My idea of an educated person is one who can converse on one subject for more than two minutes.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#7. The purpose of science is to develop, without prejudice or preconception of any kind, a knowledge of the facts, the laws, and the processes of nature. The even more important task of religion, on the other hand, is to develop the consciences, the ideals, and the aspirations of mankind.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#8. Science walks forward on two feet, namely theory and experiment.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#9. To me it is unthinkable that a real atheist could be a scientist.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#10. Fullness of knowledge always and necessarily means some understanding of the depths of our ignorance, and that is always conducive to both humility and reverence.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#11. Religion and science, then, in my analysis are the two great sister forces which have pulled, and are still pulling, mankind onward and upward.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#12. Willard Gibbs did for statistical mechanics and for thermodynamics what Laplace did for celestial mechanics and Maxwell did for electrodynamics, namely, made his field a well-nigh finished theoretical structure.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#13. Fullness of knowledge always means some understanding of the depths of our ignorance; and that is always conducive to humility and reverence.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#14. I consider an intimate knowledge of the Bible an indispensable quality of a well educated man.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#15. There is no likelihood that man can ever tap the power of the atom

Robert Andrews Millikan

#16. Three ideas stand out above all others in the influence they have exerted and are destined to exert upon the development of the human race: The idea of the Golden Rule; the idea of natural law; the idea of age-long growth or evolution.

Robert Andrews Millikan

#17. Cultivate the habit of attention and try to gain opportunities to hear wise men and women talk. Indifference and inattention are the two most dangerous monsters that you ever meet. Interest and attention will insure to you an education.

Robert Andrews Millikan