7 Quotes & Sayings By Enrico Fermi

Enrico Fermi was an Italian physicist who developed the world's first nuclear reactor. He was also one of the few physicists to break the seemingly unbreakable German code, which had baffled Allied codebreakers for years. He wrote two books about his theories, "The End of the War" (written in 1945) and "The Atomic Age", which was published in 1947.

1
The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon [the 'Super', i.e. the hydrogen bomb] makes its very existence and the knowledge of its construction a danger to humanity as a whole. It is necessarily an evil thing considered in any light. For these reasons, we believe it important for the President of the United States to tell the American public and the world what we think is wrong on fundamental ethical principles to initiate the development of such a weapon. . Enrico Fermi
2
Whatever Nature has in store for mankind, unpleasant as it may be, men must accept, for ignorance is never better than knowledge. Enrico Fermi
3
One might be led to question whether the scientists acted wisely in presenting the statesmen of the world with this appalling problem. Actually there was no choice. Once basic knowledge is acquired, any attempt at preventing its fruition would be as futile as hoping to stop the earth from revolving around the sun. Enrico Fermi
4
Before I came here, I was confused about this subject. Having listened to your lecture, I am still confused -- but on a higher level. Enrico Fermi
5
It is no good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge. Enrico Fermi
6
Ignorance is never better than knowledge. Enrico Fermi