“… the state of a really big system does not at all have to have the symmetry of the laws which govern it; in fact, it usually has less symmetry.”
Source: More Is Different (1972), p. 395
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Philip Warren Anderson 13
American physicist 1923Related quotes

“Symmetry is overrated. Overrated is symmetry.”
[6vhq4r%24a6i@kiev.wall.org, 1998]
Usenet postings, 1998

"Reminiscences of the Standard Model" - Special Colloquium by Steven Weinberg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX2R8-nJhLQ, 17 October 2017, YouTube video at 1:02:17 of 1:39:24

“Symmetry is the aesthetics of the stupid.”
An early appearance is "Symmetry is the aesthetics of the little man," which appears in the 1965 book Bauen auf dem Lande (Building in the Countryside), volumes 16-17. However, the quote has also variously been attributed to Picasso, Salvatore Dali and Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
Disputed
Source: "Symmetry is the aesthetics of the stupid." Mies van der Rohe (allegedly), 2018-01-21, 2017-11-12 http://falschzitate.blogspot.com/2017/11/symmetrie-ist-die-asthetik-der-dummen.html,

Vol. 2, p. 209; "Miscellany III".
Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times (1711)

Quote from his unpublished writing, 'Fundamental principles', 1930; as cited in Theo van Doesburg, Joost Baljeu, Studio Vista, London 1974, p. 203
1926 – 1931