Vera Rubin Quotes & Sayings

Does Sex Matter? Of course it does. But does it matter enough to Matter? That's a different question. — Vera Rubin

No observational problem will not be solved by more data. — Vera Rubin

We became astronomers thinking we were studying the universe, and now we learn that we are just studying the 5 or 10 percent that is luminous. — Vera Rubin

Science is competitive, aggressive, demanding. It is also imaginative, inspiring, uplifting. — Vera Rubin

Science progresses best when observations force us to alter our preconceptions. — Vera Rubin

My achievements in science came about because I knew what I wanted to do, and I found professional colleagues among helpful, gentle astronomers. I was never discouraged by others who were sometimes discouraging. Instead, I insisted on working on problems outside the main stream of astronomy so that I could work at my own pace and not be pressured by bandwagons. I do not offer this as an example for you, but only to show that there can be diverse approaches to science. There must be. I hope some of you will be able to devise your own paths through the complex sociology of science. Science is competitive, aggressive, demanding. It is also imaginative, inspiring, uplifting. You can do it, too. — Vera Rubin

In a spiral galaxy, the ratio of dark-to-light matter is about a factor of ten. That's probably a good number for the ratio of our ignorance-to-knowledge. We're out of kindergarten, but only in about third grade. — Vera Rubin