WIST Quotations

Szilard, Leo -- “Are We on the Road to War?”, speech at Harvard Law School (17 Nov 1961)

Dave — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:36:55 +0000

Even in times of war, you can see current events in their historical perspective, provided that your passion for the truth prevails over your bias in favor of your own nation.

Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist
“Are We on the Road to War?”, speech at Harvard Law School (17 Nov 1961)

Full text.

Szilard, Leo -- “Are We on the Road to War?”, speech at Harvard Law School (17 Nov 1961)

Dave — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:18:50 +0000

The people who have sufficient passion for the truth to give the truth a chance to prevail, if it runs counter to their bias, are in a minority. How important is this “minority?” It is difficult to say at this point, for, at the present time their influence on governmental decisions is not perceptible.

Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist
“Are We on the Road to War?”, speech at Harvard Law School (17 Nov 1961)

Full text.

Szilard, Leo -- “I’m looking for a market for wisdom: Leo Szilard, scientist,” LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)

Dave — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:21:02 +0000

The most important step in getting a job done is the recognition of the problem. Once I recognize a problem I usually can think of someone who can work it out better than I could.

Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist
“I’m looking for a market for wisdom: Leo Szilard, scientist,” LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)

Szilard, Leo -- “I’m looking for a market for wisdom: Leo Szilard, scientist,” LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)

Dave — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:47:48 +0000

In order to succeed it is not necessary to be much cleverer than other people. All you have to do is be one day ahead of them.

Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist
“I’m looking for a market for wisdom: Leo Szilard, scientist,” LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)

Variant: "If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier."

Szilard, Leo -- The Voice of the Dolphins and Other Stories (1961)

Dave — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:56:28 +0000

Even if we accept, as the basic tenet of true democracy, that one moron is equal to one genius, is it necessary to go a further step and hold that two morons are better than one genius?

Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist
The Voice of the Dolphins and Other Stories (1961)

Variant: "I’m all in favor of the democratic principle that one idiot is as good as one genius, but I draw the line when someone takes the next step and concludes that two idiots are better than one genius." In "Some Szilardisms on War, Fame, Peace", LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)

Szilard, Leo -- In “Some Szilardisms on War, Fame, Peace”, LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)

Dave — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:35:32 +0000

In life you must often choose between getting a job done or getting credit for it.

Leó Szilárd (1898-1964) Hungarian-American physicist
In “Some Szilardisms on War, Fame, Peace”, LIFE‎ (1 Sep 1961)