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The physicist may be satisfied when he has the mathematical scheme and knows how to use for the interpretation of the experiments. But he has to speak about his results also to non-physicists who will not be satisfied unless some explanation is given in plain language. Even for the physicist the description in plain language will be the criterion of the degree of understanding that has been reached.

Werner Heisenberg#15

ScienceCommunicationUnderstandingClarity

About this quote

What does it mean?
Scientists must explain results in plain language to prove true understanding.
In plain terms
True understanding means explaining complex ideas simply.
What can you take from it?
Use plain language to verify your depth of understanding.

Where it applies

  • research presentation
  • teaching
  • public outreach

Putting it to work

  • simplify technical concepts
  • test explanations on laypeople

Questions to consider

  • Can you explain your field to a child?
  • Is simplicity a true measure of knowledge?

Another view

Some concepts may remain inherently complex without loss of meaning.

More from Werner Heisenberg

  1. Whenever we proceed from the known into the unknown we may hope to understand, but we may have to learn at the same time a new meaning of the word 'understandi…

    Permalink to quote #14
  2. I remember discussions with Bohr which went through many hours till very late at night an ended almost in despair; and when at the end of the discussion I went…

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. The existing scientific concepts cover always only a very limited part of reality, and the other part that has not yet been understood is infinite.

    Permalink to quote #13

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