Francois Englert Quotes

I think we always move from imitation to assimilation to innovation, but I can't name you 20 people outside those we've already recognized who ever got to point three: innovation.

Because we imagine, we can have invention and technology. It's actually play, not necessity, that is the mother of invention.

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but play is certainly the father.

What makes our world so fascinating is that continuously there are novel and creative ideas spurring people to leave old ways and try something new.

People ask me, 'Don't you ever run out of ideas?' Well, on the first place, I don't use ideas. Every time I have an idea, it's too limiting and usually turns out to be a disappointment. But I haven't run out of curiosity.

The first time you do something, it's science. The second time, it's engineering. The third time, it's just being a technician. I'm a scientist. Once I do something, I want to do something else.

I enjoy creating new ideas, working on new creative projects.

Art begins in imitation and ends in innovation.

You can't buy something which does not exist. In a way, let's make things exist and then judge later. Don't cancel the process of creativity too early; let it flow.

I like to start with the ordinary, and then nudge it, and then think, 'What happens next, what happens next?'

As I see it, whoever's doing the inventing is also doing most of the learning - and probably having most of the fun.

Without imagination we can go nowhere. And imagination is not restricted to the arts. Every scientist I have met who has been a success has had to imagine.

Every great inspiration is but an experiment - though every experiment we know, is not a great inspiration.

From stoplights to skyscrapers, turn anywhere in civilization and you will see imagination at work. It's in our inventions, advances and remedies and how a single parent masterminds each day. Imagination is boundless, surrounds us and resides in us all.

That's the nice thing about doing research. Whatever you do is novel, so you always have this sense of novelty, even if you are only using a new gadget.

Creativity makes a leap, then looks to see where it is.

I'm into creating something that I've never created before.

Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change.

Ah, the creative process is the same secret in science as it is in art. They are all the same absolutely.

Well, I like to be kept on my toes. I look for a challenge. I don't like to recreate steps that I've already walked. I like to see if I can create something new.

People are sources not just of consumption but of innovation.

Education is the basis of creative thought: the ability to go beyond asking why to why not.

Play is the answer to the question, 'How does anything new come about?'

I'm always trying to think of things we haven't done.

If people like Edison had waited to make every - or Ben Franklin or some of those people had waited to solve every problem on Earth before they did their research or before they were curious about doing something new, we'd never have made a lot of the progress we have.