Rutherford Quotes

“The landed classes neglected technical education, taking refuge in classical studies; as late as 1930, for example, long after Ernest Rutherford at Cambridge had discovered the atomic nucleus and begun transmuting elements, the physics laboratory at Oxford had not been wired for electricity. Intellectual neglect technical education to this day.

[Describing C.P. Snow's observations on the neglect of technical education.]”
― Richard Rhodes, Visions of Technology: A Century of Vital Debate About Machines Systems and the Human World

“There was, I think, a feeling that the best science was that done in the simplest way. In experimental work, as in mathematics, there was 'style' and a result obtained with simple equipment was more elegant than one obtained with complicated apparatus, just as a mathematical proof derived neatly was better than one involving laborious calculations. Rutherford's first disintegration experiment, and Chadwick's discovery of the neutron had a 'style' that is different from that of experiments made with giant accelerators.”
― John Ashworth Ratcliffe

“His work was so great that it cannot be compassed in a few words. His death is one of the greatest losses ever to occur to British science.

{Describing Ernest Rutherford upon his death at age 66. Thomson, then 80 years old, was once his teacher.}”
― Joseph John Thomson

“My favourite chess saying is very simple: You can play without a plan, but you’ll probably lose.’

- Rutherford Gravesdown”
― Kristen Perrin, How to Solve Your Own Murder

“The year that Rutherford died (1938) there disappeared forever the happy days of free scientific work which gave us such delight in our youth. Science has lost her freedom. Science has become a productive force. She has become rich but she has become enslaved and part of her is veiled in secrecy. I do not know whether Rutherford would continue to joke and laugh as he used to.”
― Pyotr Kapitsa

“As for the contract, I’m either trustworthy or I’m not. If I’m not, I’ll find a way to screw you no matter what the contract says. If I am, then I’ll take care of you no matter what the contract says. So, really, the question isn’t, Do you want to sign the contract? It’s, Do you want to trust me?”
― Scott Meyer, The Authorities™

“Before Judge Rutherford would accept and use the home, he insisted upon writing the deed that it shall forever be held in trust by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society for the use of the Lord's work in the earth, with the expectation that in due time Abraham, Melchisedec, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah or some others of the patriarchs or prophets of olden times will appear and will be glad to use this home which has been prepared for one or more of them in the western edge of the new world...the story of Beth-Sarim has gone around the world, conveying to millions of people the thought that shortly David and others will no doubt be awakened from the sleep of death.”
― Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, JW The Messenger