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J. Willard Gibbs Quotes

A mathematician may say anything he pleases, but a physicist must be at least partially sane.

A mathematician may say anything he pleases, but a physicist must be at least partially sane.

J. Willard Gibbs
Truth, Science, Say Anything
"On the Relation of Mathematics and Physics". "Scientific Monthly" 59, 456, December 1944.

One of the principal objects of theoretical research in my department of knowledge is to find the point of view from which the subject appears in its greatest simplicity.

J. Willard Gibbs
Knowledge, Views, Simplicity

The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely, they express the laws of mechanics for such systems as they appear to beings who have not the fineness of perception to enable them to appreciate quantities of the order of magnitude of those which relate to single particles, and who cannot repeat their experiments often enough to obtain any but the most probable results.

J. Willard Gibbs
Order, Law, Numbers
"Elementary Principles in Statististical Mechanics". Book by J. Willard Gibbs (Preface, p. 8), 1902.

Mathematics is a language

J. Willard Gibbs
Math, Statistics, Language

We avoid the gravest difficulties when, giving up the attempt to frame hypotheses concerning the constitution of matter, we pursue statistical inquiries as a branch of rational mechanics.

J. Willard Gibbs
Giving Up, Inquiry, Branches
"Elementary Principles in Statististical Mechanics". Book by J. Willard Gibbs (Preface, p. 9), 1902.

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