Richard feynman archive

Twentieth century physics is very often defined by a pair of sweeping, powerful icons of nature, namely, the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics, which were brought into the world at about the years and , respectively. But tucked between these two dates is the year , and in the spring of that year there came into the world another sweeping icon capable of single handedly defining twentieth century physics, and that icon was, and is, Richard Feynman.

He was born into what was, in retrospect, perhaps an intellectual stew simmering to perfection. Financially his family was neither rich nor poor. They were materially comfortable, but not wealthy. As a young man he had the opportunity to learn to work industriously, but without undo pressure to perform. The rewards for his labors were his own. He would be the judge of his own merit.

Richard feynman quotes

He was a free man. But what to do with his freedom? In this direction his father, Melville, would be most influential. It was he who, as the birth of who would be Richard approached, determined that, if the child turned out to be a boy, then he would grow up to be a scientist. This was something of an unsatisfied dream his father held for himself.

His son did arrive, and Melville dove into his plans with all sincerity. But never would he push Richard along too narrow a path. Instead his approach was much more intuitive and subtle.