Claude Shannon

Quotes are word for word from the source.

• Quality over quantity

  “A few first rate research papers are preferable to a large number that are poorly conceived or half-finished. The latter are no credit to their writers and a waste of time to their readers.”

  Our noteDiscussing the importance of high standards in scientific publishing.

• Control and knowledge

  “Thus we may have knowledge of the past but cannot control it; we may control the future but have no knowledge of it.”

  Our noteExplaining the duality between past knowledge and future control.

• Strategic naming

  “In the second place, and more important, no one really knows what entropy really is, so in a debate you will always have the advantage.”

  Our noteRecalling John von Neumann's advice on naming his uncertainty function.

• Intrinsic motivation

  “I was never motivated by the notion of winning prizes or the desire for financial gain. My motivation in science has always been curiosity about something: How is it put together?”

  Our noteReflecting on what drives his scientific work and research.

• The pain of publishing

  “After I had found answers, it was always painful to publish, which is where you get the acclaim. Many things I have done and never written up at all.”

  Our noteExplaining why he has many unfinished or unpublished papers.

• Theoretical wedges

  “Although perhaps of no practical importance, the question is of theoretical interest, and it is hoped that a satisfactory solution of this problem will act as a wedge in attacking other problems”

  Our noteWriting about the value of programming a computer to play chess.