Quotessence
Home / Authors / Richard Hamming
Richard Hamming

Richard Hamming Quotes

Mathematician

Filter quotes by topic

AllScienceIfsProblemThinkingScientistKnowsMathematicsWayImportantPeoplePersonsBelieveComputerLearningSaidDoeDoorsExampleGreat ScientistHard Work

Famous Richard Hamming Quotes

“When you are famous it is hard to work on small problems. This is what did Shannon in. After information theory, what do you do for an encore? The great scientists often make this error. They fail to continue to plant the little acorns from which the mighty oak trees grow. They try to get the big thing right off. And that isn't the way things go. So that is another reason why you find that when you get early recognition it seems to sterilize you.”

ReasonScienceRecognitionProblemsFamousScientistsShannonEncoreInformation TheoryClaude E ShannonClaude Elwood ShannonClaude ShannonSterilize
Author:Richard Hamming
Create image

“Most people like to believe something is or is not true. Great scientists tolerate ambiguity very well. They believe the theory enough to go ahead; they doubt it enough to notice the errors and faults so they can step forward and create the new replacement theory. If you believe too much you'll never notice the flaws; if you doubt too much you won't get started. It requires a lovely balance.”

PeopleIfsBelieveWellsEnoughScienceStepsDoubtToo MuchGreatnessTheoryBalanceScientistErrorsFaultsLovelyFlawsTolerateIf You BelieveAmbiguitySteps ForwardReplacementsGreat Scientist
Author:Richard Hamming
Create image

“Often the great scientists, by turning the problem around a bit, changed a defect to an asset. For example, many scientists when they found they couldn't do a problem finally began to study why not. They then turned it around the other way and said, "But of course, this is what it is" and got an important result.”

WaySaidImportantProblemScienceCoursesFoundBitsChangeResultsStudyExampleChangedScientistImportanceWhy NotAssetsDefectsGreat Scientist
Author:Richard Hamming
Create image

“A parable: A man was examining the construction of a cathedral. He asked a stone mason what he was doing chipping the stones, and the mason replied, "I am making stones." He asked a stone carver what he was doing. "I am carving a gargoyle." And so it went, each person said in detail what they were doing. Finally he came to an old woman who was sweeping the ground. She said. "I am helping build a cathedral." ...Most of the time each person is immersed in the details of one special part of the whole and does not think of how what they are doing relates to the larger picture.”

ThinkingMenPersonsDoeSaidWholeHelpingScienceSpecialEvidenceStonesDetailsRelateConstructionOld WomanCathedralsExaminingSweepingParablesMasonsCarvingGargoylesCarver
Author:Richard Hamming
Create image