Quote#Dreams
A star is drawing on some vast reservoir of energy by means unknown…
Quote byArthur Eddington · 1882–1944
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Internal Constitution of Stars (1926).
English (original)
A star is drawing on some vast reservoir of energy by means unknown to us. This reservoir can scarcely be other than the sub-atomic energy which, it is known, exists abundantly in all matter; we sometimes dream that man will one day learn to release it and use it for his service. The store is well-nigh inexhaustible, if only it could be tapped.
— Arthur Eddington
More from Arthur Eddington
We do not argue with the critic who urges that the stars are not hot enough for this process; we tell him to go and find a hotter place.
The present revolution of scientific thought follows in natural sequence on the great revolutions at earlier epochs in the history of science
At terrestrial temperatures matter has complex properties which are likely to prove most difficult to unravel; but it is reasonable to hope that in the not too distant future we shall be competent to understand so simple a thing as a star.
These earlier revolutions are still a source of perplexity in childhood, which we soon outgrow; and a time will come when Einstein's amazing revelations have likewise sunk into the commonplaces of educated thought.
Physics has in the main contented itself with studying the abridged edition of the book of nature.
I think that science would never have achieved much progress if it had always imagined unknown obstacles hidden round every corner. At least we may peer gingerly round the corner, and perhaps we shall find there is nothing very formidable …