Quotessence
Home / Authors / Karl Popper
Karl Popper

Karl Popper Quotes

Philosopher

Filter quotes by topic

AllScienceTheoryIfsMayMenKnowsShouldIdeasWorldHumansCriticismThinkingKnowledgePlatoWayCertainCriticalFactsKindStatements

Famous Karl Popper Quotes

“But some of these theories are so bold that they can clash with reality: they are the testable theories of science. And when they clash, then we know that there is a reality; something that can inform us that our ideas are mistaken.”

KnowsIdeasRealityScienceTheoryMistakenMechanicClashQuantum Mechanics
Book:Quantum Theory and the Schism in Physics: From the Postscript to The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Create image

“Bold ideas, unjustified anticipations, and speculative thought, are our only means for interpreting nature: our only organon, our only instrument, for grasping her. And we must hazard them to win our prize. Those among us who are unwilling to expose their ideas to the hazard of refutation do not take part in the scientific game.”

MeanIdeasGamesWinningInstrumentsPrizeAnticipationUnwillingHazardsGraspingInterpretingRefutationUnjustified
Book:The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Create image

“Some scientists find, or so it seems, that they get their best ideas when smoking; others by drinking coffee or whisky. Thus there is no reason why I should not admit that some may get their ideas by observing, or by repeating observations.”

ShouldMayIdeasReasonSeemsScienceScientistDrinkingCoffeeObservationReason WhySmokingNo ReasonObservingWhiskyDrinking Coffee
Book:Realism and the Aim of Science: From the Postscript to The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Create image

“I think that we shall have to get accustomed to the idea that we must not look upon science as a 'body of knowledge,' but rather as a system of hypotheses; that is to say, as a system of guesses or anticipations which in principle cannot be justified, but with which we work as long as they stand up to tests, and of which we are never justified in saying that we know they are 'true' or 'more or less certain' or even 'probable.'”

ThinkingKnowsLooksLongIdeasBodyScienceCertainPrinciplesKnowledgeTestsLook UpAnticipationHypothesisJustifiedAccustomed
Author:Karl Popper
Create image

“The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error. But science is one of the very few human activities-perhaps the only one-in which errors are systematically criticized and fairly often, in time, corrected. This is why we can say that, in science, we often learn from our mistakes, and why we can speak clearly and sensibly about making progress there. In most other fields of human endeavour there is change, but rarely progress ... And in most fields we do not even know how to evaluate change.”

KnowsHumansIdeasDreamScienceSpeakMistakeHistoryKnow HowLearningProgressFieldsActivityErrorsClarityIrresponsibleEvaluateEndeavourHuman ActivityHistory Of ScienceObstinacyLearning From Our Mistakes
Author:Karl Popper
Create image

“The war of ideas is a Greek invention. It is one of the most important inventions ever made. Indeed, the possibility of fighting with with words and ideas instead of fighting with swords is the very basis of our civilization, and especially of all its legal and parliamentary institutions.”

MadeImportantIdeasWarFightingPossibilityCivilizationBasesInstitutionsInventionGreekParliamentary
Book:Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge
Create image

“I don't know whether God exists or not. ... Some forms of atheism are arrogant and ignorant and should be rejected, but agnosticism—to admit that we don't know and to search—is all right. ... When I look at what I call the gift of life, I feel a gratitude which is in tune with some religious ideas of God. However, the moment I even speak of it, I am embarrassed that I may do something wrong to God in talking about God.”

KnowsFeelsShouldLooksMayIdeasMomentsFormSpeakReligiousTalkingAtheismGratitudeIgnorantTunesArrogantRejectedEmbarrassedAgnosticismGod ExistsGifts Of LifeWhether God Exists
Author:Karl Popper
Create image

“Why do I think that we, the intellectuals, are able to help? Simply because we, the intellectuals, have done the most terrible harm for thousands of years. Mass murder in the name of an idea, a doctrine, a theory, a religion - that is all "our" doing, "our" invention: the invention of the intellectuals. If only we would stop setting man against man - often with the best intentions - much would be gained. Nobody can say that it is impossible for us to stop doing this.”

IfsThinkingMenYearsIdeasDoneHelpingWould BeAbleReligionNamesImpossibleTheoryTerribleMassMurderIntentionHarmInventionSettingDoctrineSettingsBest Intentions
Book:In Search of a Better World: Lectures and Essays from Thirty Years
Create image