p, 125
Geometrical Lectures (1735)
“Time is that which is measured by a clock. This is a sound way of looking at things. A quantity like time, or any other physical measurement, does not exist in a completely abstract way. We find no sense in talking about something unless we specify how we measure it. It is the definition by the method of measuring a quantity that is the one sure way of avoiding talking nonsense about this kind of thing.”
Hermann Bondi (1980), Relativity and Common Sense: A New Approach to Einstein, p. 65
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Hermann Bondi 5
British mathematician and cosmologist 1919–2005Related quotes
“Necessity resides in the way we talk about things, not in the things we talk about.”
Ways of Paradox and Other Essays (1976), p. 174
1970s
James describing what Orbs are.
Source: Levin, Ken (February/March 2004). "Orbs Come Out to Play", UFO Magazine 19 (1): 39
“The scale we measure things by is the measure of our own mind.”
Der Maßstab, den wir an die Dinge legen, ist das Maß unseres eigenen Geistes.
Source: Aphorisms (1880/1893), p. 52.
“We will quickly measure you one way or another. We have no living ex-members.”
Source: Space Chantey (1968), Ch. 7
Context: "This is the Improbable Club," said the President-Emeritus in a heavy muffled voice, "and you things have made an improbable entry. Many unqualified persons have attempted to crash this Club, but you have done it literally. Whether you will be able to qualify for our high membership is another thing. It will not matter. We accept, for a brief moment at least, all who come here as members. We will quickly measure you one way or another. We have no living ex-members. Sit you down, all, and unwind your ears. Remember, each topper must be topped."
Encyclopedia Brittanica article, quoted by Patricia Fara in Science A Four Thousand Year History (2009) citing Simon Schaffer article in The Values of Precision (1995) ed. M. Norton Wise