Famous quote by Lord Kelvin

Mobile Desktop
Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible
Like

"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible"

- Lord Kelvin

About this Quote

This quote by Lord Kelvin is a reflection of the scientific understanding of the time. In 1895, when the quote was made, the idea of heavier-than-air flying machines was thought about impossible. This was because of the lack of understanding and innovation available to make such a feat possible. Lord Kelvin was a prominent physicist and mathematician, and his viewpoint was highly appreciated. His quote was a reflection of the clinical understanding of the time, and it was believed that the laws of physics would not permit heavier-than-air flying devices. This quote was a pointer of the restrictions of science at the time, and it was a suggestion that some things were thought about impossible. However, this quote was shown wrong in 1903 when the Wright brothers successfully flew the first heavier-than-air flying device. This was a significant advancement in air travel and it revealed that the difficult might be achieved with the ideal understanding and technology.

About the Author

Ireland Flag This quote is written / told by Lord Kelvin between June 26, 1824 and December 17, 1907. He/she was a famous Scientist from Ireland. The author also have 6 other quotes.

Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Small: Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible - Marion C. Garretty
Marion C. Garretty
"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible"
Marion C. Garretty, Poet
Small: What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things... it is impossible for anyone to express any
Constantin Brancusi
"What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things... it is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface"
Constantin Brancusi, Sculptor
Small: It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows - Epictetus
Epictetus
"It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows"
Epictetus, Philosopher
Small: It is impossible to suffer without making someone pay for it every complaint already contains revenge - Friedr
Friedrich Nietzsche
"It is impossible to suffer without making someone pay for it; every complaint already contains revenge"
Friedrich Nietzsche, Philosopher
Small: Nothing is impossible, the word itself says Im possible! - Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"
Audrey Hepburn, Actress
Small: The word impossible is not in my dictionary - Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte
"The word impossible is not in my dictionary"
Napoleon Bonaparte, Leader
Small: The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible - Arthur C. Cla
Arthur C. Clarke
"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible"
Arthur C. Clarke, Writer
Small: The impossible often has a kind of integrity which the merely improbable lacks - Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams
"The impossible often has a kind of integrity which the merely improbable lacks"
Douglas Adams, Writer
Small: Nothing is impossible to a willing heart - John Heywood
John Heywood
"Nothing is impossible to a willing heart"
John Heywood, Dramatist
Small: The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that whe
Douglas Adams
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair"
Douglas Adams, Writer