David Bohm Quotes

Powerful David Bohm for Daily Growth

About David Bohm

David Joseph Bohm (1917-1992) was an American theoretical physicist and philosopher, renowned for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics and the philosophy of mind. Born on January 20, 1917, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Bohm grew up in a working-class family that valued education. His fascination with science was ignited at an early age, which led him to study physics at Pennsylvania State College (now University). Later, he earned his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1943, under the guidance of Robert Oppenheimer and Richard Feynman. Bohm's career took a significant turn during the Manhattan Project when he worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory on the development of the atomic bomb. However, his conscience led him to question the ethical implications of such work, leading to a shift in his focus towards theoretical physics and quantum mechanics. One of Bohm's most influential works is his 1952 paper "Quantum Mechanics and Reality," where he proposed the concept of "hidden variables" to explain the seemingly random behavior of particles in quantum mechanics. This idea contrasted with the Copenhagen interpretation, which considered such behavior as inherently unpredictable. In the late 1950s, Bohm moved to Brazil and later to Israel, where he continued his research and developed the "Quantum Potential," a term that describes an influence on particles that is not directly observable. His work significantly contributed to our understanding of quantum mechanics and has been influential in fields such as cosmology, molecular biology, and artificial life. Bohm's philosophical interests led him to explore the relationship between physics, consciousness, and reality. In his book "Wholeness and the Implicate Order" (1980), he proposed a holistic view of the universe based on the concepts of explicate and implicate orders, suggesting that the world is fundamentally interconnected and undivided. David Bohm's unique contributions to physics and philosophy continue to influence scientists and thinkers worldwide. His legacy lies in his ability to bridge the gap between these disciplines, offering a profound understanding of the nature of reality itself.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Thought creates over and over again out of the same old material."

This quote by physicist David Bohm suggests that our thoughts are often repetitive, drawing from familiar patterns rather than new or diverse ideas. It implies that we tend to think within set mental frameworks, which can limit our creativity and innovation as we continue to generate the same kinds of thoughts instead of exploring fresh perspectives. The quote encourages us to challenge these established thought processes in order to foster originality and expand our cognitive horizons.

"The role of science is to understand the nature of thought, not to impose thought on nature."

This quote by David Bohm suggests that the primary purpose of science should be to comprehend and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of thought processes themselves, rather than using preconceived human thoughts or theories to forcefully explain or manipulate natural phenomena. In essence, Bohm is advocating for a more humble and curious approach to scientific inquiry, one that respects the complexity and autonomy of nature, and acknowledges that our understanding may be limited by our own thought structures.

"Thinking is a form of action."

David Bohm's quote, "Thinking is a form of action," suggests that our thoughts are not mere passive mental processes but active and influential actions in their own right. It implies that every thought we have has the power to shape our experiences, decisions, and ultimately, the course of our lives. This perspective encourages us to consider our thoughts carefully, as they are not merely observers of reality, but agents that help create it.

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves."

This quote by David Bohm emphasizes the profound influence our thoughts have on our personal development and emotional state. The phrase "we are shaped by our thoughts" suggests that our thoughts determine who we are as individuals and help mold our character, beliefs, and actions. The second part, "when the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves," implies that when our thoughts are free from negative biases, irrational fears, or prejudices (a 'pure' mind), happiness and contentment naturally follow us, just as a shadow always accompanies an object. This suggests that inner peace and lasting joy can be achieved through maintaining a clear, uncluttered mindset, devoid of unnecessary worries and negative thoughts.

"The function of thought is to bring the future into the present so as to make the present intelligible."

David Bohm's quote suggests that our thoughts help us comprehend and navigate the present by projecting potential outcomes or understanding patterns from past experiences, thereby making sense of our current reality. In essence, we use thought not just to understand the present, but also to predict and adapt to what might happen in the future.

Suppose we were able to share meanings freely without a compulsive urge to impose our view or conform to those of others and without distortion and self-deception. Would this not constitute a real revolution in culture.

- David Bohm

Self-Deception, Constitute, Impose

Yet, in spite of this world-wide system of linkages, there is, at this very moment, a general feeling that communication is breaking down everywhere, on an unparalleled scale.

- David Bohm

Feeling, Scale, Very, World-Wide

Indeed, the attempt to live according to the notion that the fragments are really separate is, in essence, what has led to the growing series of extremely urgent crises that is confronting us today.

- David Bohm

Essence, Separate, Crises, Indeed

One thus sees that a new kind of theory is needed which drops these basic commitments and at most recovers some essential features of the older theories as abstract forms derived from a deeper reality in which what prevails in unbroken wholeness.

- David Bohm

Some, Needed, New Kind, Recovers

This kind of overall way of thinking is not only a fertile source of new theoretical ideas: it is needed for the human mind to function in a generally harmonious way, which could in turn help to make possible an orderly and stable society.

- David Bohm

Needed, Source, Theoretical, Harmonious

Similarly, thought is a system. That system not only includes thought and feelings, but it includes the state of the body; it includes the whole of society - as thought is passing back and forth between people in a process by which thought evolved from ancient times.

- David Bohm

Thought, Process, Which, Similarly

But you don't decide what to do with the info. Thought runs you. Thought, however, gives false info that you are running it, that you are the one who controls thought. Whereas actually thought is the one which controls each one of us.

- David Bohm

However, Which, Each One, Runs

In relativity, movement is continuous, causally determinate and well defined, while in quantum mechanics it is discontinuous, not causally determinate and not well defined.

- David Bohm

Well, Quantum Mechanics, Defined

A corporation is organized as a system - it has this department, that department, that department... they don't have any meaning separately; they only can function together. And also the body is a system. Society is a system in some sense. And so on.

- David Bohm

Some, Separately, Also, Department

During the past few decades, modern technology, with radio, TV, air travel, and satellites, has woven a network of communication which puts each part of the world in to almost instant contact with all the other parts.

- David Bohm

Other, TV, Almost, Decades

My suggestion is that at each state the proper order of operation of the mind requires an overall grasp of what is generally known, not only in formal logical, mathematical terms, but also intuitively, in images, feelings, poetic usage of language, etc.

- David Bohm

Language, Proper, Usage, Feelings

People are no longer primarily in opposition, nor can they be said to be interacting, rather they are participating in this pool of common meaning which is capable of constant development and change.

- David Bohm

Development, Constant, Which, Participating

Thought is constantly creating problems that way and then trying to solve them. But as it tries to solve them it makes it worse because it doesn't notice that it's creating them, and the more it thinks, the more problems it creates.

- David Bohm

Thought, More, Tries, Notice

Individuality is only possible if it unfolds from wholeness.

- David Bohm

Wholeness, Only, Unfolds, Individuality

We havent really paid much attention to thought as a process. we have engaged in thoughts, but we have only paid attention to the content, not to the process.

- David Bohm

Thoughts, Process, Engaged, Much Attention

And thought struggles against the results, trying to avoid those unpleasant results while keeping on with that way of thinking. That is what I call 'sustained incoherence.

- David Bohm

Thought, Against, Keeping, Struggles

This is another major feature of thought: Thought doesn't know it is doing something and then it struggles against it is doing. It doesn't want to know that it is doing it.

- David Bohm

Thought, Doing, Against, Struggles

So one begins to wonder what is going to happen to the human race. Technology keeps on advancing with greater and greater power, either for good or for destruction.

- David Bohm

Race, Happen, Going, Advancing

What is the source of all this trouble? I'm saying that the source is basically in thought. Many people would think that such a statement is crazy, because thought is the one thing we have with which to solve our problems. That's part of our tradition.

- David Bohm

Thought, Source, Part, Problems

The ability to perceive or think differently is more important than the knowledge gained.

- David Bohm

Knowledge, Think, Important, Gained

Then there is the further question of what is the relationship of thinking to reality. As careful attention shows, thought itself is in an actual process of movement.

- David Bohm

Process, Question, Actual, Further

Thought has been constantly evolving and we can't say when that system began.

- David Bohm

Thought, System, Been, Evolving

But the way people commonly use the word nowadays it means something all of whose parts are mutually interdependent - not only for their mutual action, but for their meaning and for their existence.

- David Bohm

Use, Means, Commonly, Parts

In some sense man is a microcosm of the universe; therefore what man is, is a clue to the universe. We are enfolded in the universe.

- David Bohm

Universe, Some, Microcosm, Therefore

A new kind of mind thus beings to come into being which is based on the development of a common meaning that is constantly transforming in the process of the dialogue.

- David Bohm

Mind, New, Which, Dialogue

Yet it looks as if the thing we use to solve our problems with is the source of our problems. It's like going to the doctor and having him make you ill. In fact, in 20% of medical cases we do apparently have that going on. But in the case of thought, its far over 20%.

- David Bohm

Medical, Thought, Fact, Solve

Thought is creating divisions out of itself and then saying that they are there naturally.

- David Bohm

Thought, Naturally, Itself, Divisions

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