34 Quotes by Leo Szilard

I'm all in favor of the democratic principle that one idiot is as good as one genius, but I draw the line when someone takes the next step and concludes that two idiots are better than one genius.

In order to succeed, it is not necessary to be much cleverer than other people. All you have to be is one day ahead of them.

We turned the switch, saw the flashes, watched for ten minutes, then switched everything off and went home. That night I knew the world was headed for sorrow.

If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier.

If one knows only what one is told, one does not know enough to be able to arrive at a well-balanced decision.

Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into solitude or among strangers, so that the memory of your friends does not hinder you from being what you have become.

A scientist's aim in a discussion with his colleagues is not to persuade, but to clarify.

Pronouncement of experts to the effect that something cannot be done has always irritated me.

Byrnes... was concerned about Russia's postwar behavior. Russian troops had moved into Hungary and Rumania, and Byrnes thought it would be very difficult to persuade Russia to withdraw her troops from these countries, that Russia might be more manageable if impressed by American military might, and that a demonstration of the bomb might impress Russia.