Highly intellectual humor: how famous scientists actually joked (7 photos)

There is an opinion that scientists are serious people who even a little "out of this world". But, as it turned out, they don’t even have a sense of humor. alien.





In 1966, a wonderful book "Physicists are joking" was published, in which you can read both stories from the life of famous people, and ordinary scientists.

Arthur Eddington



British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington was once asked question: "Sir, it is true that you are one of the three people in the world who understand Einstein's theory of relativity?"

Eddington thought for a moment and was silent. The journalist thought it was an incorrect question and just tactlessly asking a well-known scientist, so I decided to correct the situation:

— Excuse me, sir! Perhaps my question was tactless, in which case answer another question ...

Eddington interrupted the journalist in mid-sentence and said:

- No, no, what are you?! I was just trying to remember who the third person was...

Thomas Edison





- I just can’t find an assistant, - once Edison complained to Einstein. - Every day young people come to me people, I test them, but none fit!

- Indeed? How do you determine their suitability? Einstein was keenly interested.

Edison handed the scientist a piece of paper with questions and said:

- Who will be able to answer all these questions, he will become my assistant.

"What is the distance in miles from New York to Chicago?" - read Einstein. And after a moment's pause, he answered: "Never, to be honest, knew. You need to look in the railway directory."

"Next. What is stainless steel made of?" - "I did not study and this question. Perhaps this can be found in the guide to metallurgy..."

Einstein skimmed through the rest of the questions. Then he confidently said:

- Without waiting for a refusal, I withdraw my candidacy myself!

Albert Einstein



Einstein was fascinated by Charlie Chaplin's The Golden fever" and decided to write a letter to Chaplin: "I admire you. your film "Gold Rush" is understood all over the world. You will surely become great man! Einstein".

Chaplin replied to this letter with another letter: "I am delighted you even more. Nobody in the world understands your theory of relativity, but still became a great man. Chaplin".

One woman asked Einstein to call her on the phone, but warned that the number is very difficult to remember - 24361.

- What is so difficult here? Einstein was surprised. “Two dozen and 19 squared.

David Gilbert



Once the German mathematician David Hilbert was asked about one of his former students.

- Oh, this one? Gilbert remembered. - He became a poet. He has too little imagination for mathematics.

Niels Bohr



During his studies at the Niels Bohr Institute (Danish physicist) once poorly prepared for a colloquium, and his speech was, weak to say the least. Bohr understood this very well, so at the end he said with a smile:

“I have heard so many disgusting speeches here, so please consider my current revenge.

Wilhelm Roentgen



Once Wilhelm Roentgen received a letter in which a man asked to send him some x-rays with instructions on how to use them. The author of the letter had a bullet in his chest, and he decided that you can do without a personal visit.

Roentgen replied to this letter something like this: "To the great Unfortunately, I don't have X-rays right now, so I can't send them. TO Moreover, their transfer is a very complicated matter. I think that we can much easier to do - send me your chest."