Idézetek a bölcsességről és az igazságról

Latin jegyzetek, melyeket magának írt: Quaestiones Quaedam Philosophicae (Bizonyos filozófiai kérdések) címmel (1664)
Eredeti: Amicus Plato — amicus Aristoteles — magis amica veritas

Eredeti: As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.

Eredeti: New York Times (1930. november 9.)

Max Bornnak írt leveléből (1926 december 4.)
Gyakran használt másik formája az „Isten nem kockázik!” vagy „Isten nem vet kockát!”.
Eredeti: Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner voice tells me that it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the 'old one'. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice.

Forrás: "Kozmikus vallás: más egyéb véleményekkel és aforizmákkal" (1931)
Eredeti: I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.

Eredeti: So many people today — and even professional scientists — seem to me like someone who has seen thousands of trees but has never seen a forest. A knowledge of the historic and philosophical background gives that kind of independence from prejudices of his generation from which most scientists are suffering. This independence created by philosophical insight is — in my opinion — the mark of distinction between a mere artisan or specialist and a real seeker after truth.