Quotes from Luis Alvarez

I read The Cuckoo’s Egg by Cliff Stoll. I found some very inspiring quotes from Luis Alvarez. I present here some quotes, which can be found in pages 105 and 106 of the book. The book is a good read.

...When you are doing real research, you never know what it’ll cost, how much time it’ll take, or what you’ll find. You just know there’s unexplored territory and a chance to discover what’s out there.

Don’t try to be a cop, be a scientist. Research the connections, the techniques, the holes. Apply physical principles. Find new methods to solve problems. Compile statistics, publish your results, and only trust what you can prove. But don’t exclude improbable solutions–keep your mind open.

Dead ends are illusory. When did you ever let a ‘Do Not Enter’ sign keep you away from anything? Go around the brick walls. When you can’t go around, climb over or dig under. Just don’t give up.

Permission, bah. Funding, forget it. Nobody will pay for research; they’re only interested in results.