Home / Authors / J. Robert Oppenheimer

J. Robert Oppenheimer

J. Robert Oppenheimer Quotes

Theoretical Physicist

J. Robert Oppenheimer was a theoretical physicist who played a pivotal role in the development of quantum mechanics and the Manhattan Project. He is best known for his leadership of the Los Alamos National Laboratory during the Manhattan Project, which resulted in the creation of the first atomic bombs. Oppenheimer was born on April 22, 1904, and passed away on February 18, 1967.

Filter quotes by topic

All World Men Science Knows Atomic Bomb Scientist Thinking Way Physics War Discovery Errors Humans Ifs May Physicist Trying Believe Bombs Culture

Famous J. Robert Oppenheimer Quotes

“Everyone wants rather to be pleasing to women and that desire is not altogether, though it is very largely, a manifestation of vanity. But one cannot aim to be pleasing to women any more than one can aim to have taste, or beauty of expression, or happiness; for these things are not specific aims which one may learn to attain; they are descriptions of the adequacy of one's living. To try to be happy is to try to build a machine with no other specification than that it shall run noiselessly.”

Want Trying May Running Desire Expression Taste Machines Aim Vanity Manifestation Description Specifications Adequacy Trying To Be Happy

Author:J. Robert Oppenheimer

“We may be likened to two scorpions in a bottle, each capable of killing the other, but only at the risk of his own life.”

May Two Risk Capable Killing Bottles Scorpions

Author:J. Robert Oppenheimer

“We may anticipate a state of affairs in which two Great Powers will each be in a position to put an end to the civilization and life of the other, though not without risking its own. We may be likened to two scorpions in a bottle, each capable of killing the other, but only at the risk of his own life.”

May Two Ends States Risk Position Civilization Capable Killing Affair Bottles Anticipate Great Power Scorpions

Author:J. Robert Oppenheimer

“Access to the Vedas is the greatest privilege this century may claim over all previous centuries.”

May Century Claims Privilege Access Hinduism Atomic Bomb Nuclear Bomb Atom Bomb Vedas Atomic Weapons

Author:J. Robert Oppenheimer

“The open society, the unrestricted access to knowledge, the unplanned and uninhibited association of men for its furtherance-these are what may make a vast, complex, ever growing, ever changing, ever more specialized and expert technological world, nevertheless a world of human community.”

Men World Humans May Science Community Knowledge Growing Society Complexes Access Experts Association Nevertheless Technological

Book:Atom and Void: Essays on Science and Community

Source: Atom and Void: Essays on Science and Community

About the Author

Born: April 22, 1904
Died: February 18, 1967
Known for: Theoretical Physicist
Quotes: 80

Related Topics

World Men Science Knows Atomic Bomb Scientist Thinking Way Physics War Discovery Errors Humans Ifs May Physicist Trying Believe Bombs Culture

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Uncommon SenseRelated source material

Atom and Void: Essays on Science and CommunityRelated source material

Physics in the Contemporary WorldRelated source material

OppenheimerRelated source material

Reflections on the resonances of physics historyRelated source material

Similar Authors

Anthony StandenBrowse related quotes
Richard P. FeynmanBrowse related quotes
Isidor Isaac RabiBrowse related quotes
Lise MeitnerBrowse related quotes
Max PlanckBrowse related quotes
George IlesBrowse related quotes
Peter MedawarBrowse related quotes
Claude BernardBrowse related quotes
Francis BaconBrowse related quotes
Albert EinsteinBrowse related quotes