49 Quotes by Jim Peebles

I started in engineering, where I think I could have happily remained and, who knows, made a bundle as a civil engineer or mechanical engineer. But more of my friends happened to be majoring in physics than engineering, so I switched over. No more compelling reason than that.

As a kid I did enjoy building things; learned quickly how to make gun powder. I built sleighs, forts, houses in the back yards of houses.

I didn't do much in things mechanical in high school, except learn to square dance and other such activities.

I had good time in high school, but I don't think I learned a lot.

It is so easy for us theorists who build wonderful castles, beautiful ideas. Sometimes, it is remarkable, sometimes these beautiful ideas prove to be close to what the observations tell us. But often and also they turn out to be wrong.

Research in the natural sciences operates in successive approximations. We are glad to be able to offer many good problems for research by generations to come.

I loved teaching. In addition to that, I love physics. And so what could be better than to talk physics to bright young students?

I loved to take things apart and put them back together. I loved the way things work.

One of my earliest memories was throwing a tantrum because I wasn't allowed to put together the coffee percolator.