Science Quotations Index > Scientist Names Index K > Baron William Thomson Kelvin

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Baron William Thomson Kelvin
(26 Jun 1824 - 17 Dec 1907)

British physicist and mathematician , born as William Thomson in Ireland, he became an influential physicist, mathematician and engineer who has been described as a Newton of his era.

Science Quotes by Baron William Thomson Kelvin (2)

In physical science the first essential step in the direction of learning any subject is to find principles of numerical reckoning and practicable methods for measuring some quality connected with it. I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the state of Science, whatever the matter may be.
— Baron William Thomson Kelvin
Popular Lectures and Addresses 1:73 (originally: Lecture to the Institution of Civil Engineers, 3 May 1883)

You, in this country [the USA], are subjected to the British insularity in weights and measures; you use the foot, inch and yard. I am obliged to use that system, but must apologize to you for doing so, because it is so inconvenient, and I hope Americans will do everything in their power to introduce the French metrical system. ... I look upon our English system as a wickedly, brain-destroying system of bondage under which we suffer. The reason why we continue to use it, is the imaginary difficulty of making a change, and nothing else; but I do not think in America that any such difficulty should stand in the way of adopting so splendidly useful a reform.
— Baron William Thomson Kelvin
Journal of the Franklin Institute, Nov 1884, 118, 321-341


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