Words I've been impressed with.
- "In other words, that there is a technique for the use of the mind for this purpose; that whenever an idea is produced this technique is followed, consciously or unconsciously; and that this technique can consciously be cultivated and the ability of the mind to produce ideas thereby increased. This technique of the mind follows five steps. I am sure that you will all recognize them individually. But the important thing is to recognize their relationship and to grasp the fact that the mind follows these five steps in definite order that by no possibility can one of them be taken before the preceding one is completed, if an idea is to be produced. The first of these steps is for the mind to gather its raw material. That, I am sure, will strike you as a simple and obvious truth. Yet it is really amazing to what degree this step is ignored in practice. Gathering raw material in a real way is not as simple as it sounds. It is such a terrible chore that we are constantly trying to dodge it. The time that ought to be spent in material gathering is spent in wool gathering. Instead of working systematically at the job of gathering raw material we sit around hoping for inspiration to strike us. When we do that we are trying to get the mind to take the fourth step in the idea-producing process while we dodge the preceding steps. "(James Webb Young)
- "Did you use all the data? Did you use the whole condition? We cannot miss these questions when we deal with purely mathematical problems. In practical problems, however, we should put these questions in a modified form: Did you use all the data which could contribute appreciably to the solution? Did you use all the conditions which could influence appreciably the solution? We take stock of the available relevant information, we collect more information if necessary, but eventually we must stop collecting, we must draw the line somewhere, we cannot help neglecting something. 'If you will sail without danger, you must never put to sea.' Quite often, there is a great surplus of data which have no appreciable influence on the final form of the solution."(George Polya)
- "Celebrate when your experiment doesn't go as planned. I'm not referring to accidents like knocking over a beaker and spilling its contents on the floor; that's certainly not what I mean. What I'm getting at is when your expectations for an experiment don't align with the actual results. If the outcome matches your expectations, the experiment is technically a success, but such experiments lack real intrigue. They merely confirm what you already know. There's no groundbreaking discovery in that. Conducting experiments with predictable outcomes isn't very meaningful. The value lies in experiments where the outcome is uncertain. If you encounter unexpected results, it suggests the existence of something yet unknown. This could potentially lead to a groundbreaking discovery that astonishes the world. You should be elated because of this possibility. You're calling it a failure because your predictions didn't come true, but perhaps your predictions were flawed, or there might be some previously undiscovered phenomenon at play. No one has encountered anything like this before. It could serve as a vital clue to solving longstanding mysteries. So, your experiment was a resounding success, and you should be thrilled. Investigate from various angles to solidify it as a groundbreaking discovery."(Fujio Egami)
- "The author of this book argues that the crucial element of an introductory book lies in providing readers with comprehensive information without requiring them to consult other texts. Even if the amount of content is reduced and gaps are introduced to simplify the book, the frequent use of the arising-from-nowhere phrase 'it is known to be the case that...' prevents readers from deducing outcomes on their own. Solving equations by oneself is crucial in mathematics and physics. The lack of providing adequate support and guidance leaves the only option for readers to memorize the outcomes, which does not qualify as a proper introduction to the study of science." (Takeshi Yoshida)
- "Many outstanding students crave challenging experiences, such as those pursued by artists and athletes. While achieving top grades in school is impressive, there are countless outstanding individuals every year, and the world is teeming with brilliant people. So, where do you envision yourself among them? Do you wish to succeed in a world where only one person can thrive, or do you aspire to be among the ten individuals selected for a specific profession? Alternatively, do you aim to work in an industry where up to a thousand people can find employment? If you're so passionate about something that you don't care if it doesn't become your career, you should still plan your life around that possibility. At the very least, however, you should understand the game you're playing. Seeing people, even those deemed outstanding, attending crowded events without basic knowledge makes me think about what it means to be outstanding." (Shigeru Shinomoto)
- "When I talk to someone, I don't blame them if they can't understand me. Instead, I think about my own approach. I never point fingers when communication doesn't go well. I believe if someone can't understand my message or relate to my feelings, it's probably because my communication is not optimum. This mindset must come from my experience as a programmer. When a system doesn't work, it's clearly an issue with how I've programmed it (lol)."(Satoru Iwata)
- "Efforts go unrewarded, and justice fails. Nonetheless, challenges continue to present themselves."(Jin Akiyama)