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About this quote

What does it mean?
Physicists use inconsistent units, revealing their human fallibility.
In plain terms
Even scientists make silly mistakes with measurements.
What can you take from it?
Humans are imperfect even in precise fields.

Where it applies

  • studying physics
  • writing about science
  • learning units

Putting it to work

  • standardize your tools
  • expect human error

Questions to consider

  • What common errors do professionals make?
  • How does humor help learning?

Another view

Historical units persist due to legacy systems, not idiocy.

More from Richard Feynman

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  3. Poets say science takes away from the beauty of the stars - mere globs of gas atoms. Nothing is 'mere'. I too can see the stars on a desert night, and feel the…

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