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Charles Francis Richter Biography

Charles Francis Richter

Charles Francis Richter ( US: /ˈrɪktər/); April 26, 1900 – September 30, 1985) was an American seismologist and physicist.

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Charles Francis Richter Quotes

Most loss of life and property has been due to the collapse of antiquated and unsafe structures, mostly of brick and other masonry. . . . There is progress of California toward building new construction according to earthquake-resistant design. We would have less reason to ask for earthquake prediction if this was universal.

Life, Loss, Masonry, Science, Unsafe

It is a common remark that men talk most who think least; just as frogs cease their quacking when a light is brought to the water-side.

Common, Light, Men, Think, Thinking

If one introduces the concept of energy of an earthquake then that is a theoretically derived quantity.

Concept, Earthquakes, Energy, Introducing, Theoretically

I was lucky because logarithmic plots are a device of the devil.

Devil, Logarithmic, Lucky, Plot, Plots

The usual designation of the magnitude scale to my name does less than justice to the great part that Dr. Gutenberg played in extending the scale to apply to earthquakes in all parts of the world.

Apply, Earthquakes, Names, Part, Science

According to Democritus, truth lies at the bottom of a well, the water of which serves as a mirror in which objects may be reflected. I have heard, however, that some philosophers, in seeking for truth, to pay homage to her, have seen their own image and adored it instead.

Adored, Lying, Mirrors, Philosophers, Rain, Reflected

it is good to have measured myself, to recognize my limitations.

Good, Limitation, Limitations, Measured, Recognize

There is nothing more beautiful than cheerfulness in an old face, and among country people it is always a sign of a well-regulated life.

Among, Beautiful, Country, Life, People

I would walk - not run - to the nearest seismograph.

Knowledge, Run, Running, Science, Seismograph, Walk

My main point today is that usually one gets what one expects, but very rarely in the way one expected it.

Expected, Today, Usually, Way

The laboratory routine, which involves a great deal of measurement, filing, and tabulation, is either my lifeline or my chief handicap, I hardly know which.

Deal, Filing, Involves, Knowledge, Routine, Science

The most remarkable feature about the magnitude scale was that it worked at all and that it could be extended on a worldwide basis. It was originally envisaged as a rather rough-and-ready procedure by which we could grade earthquakes. We would have been happy if we could have assigned just three categories, large, medium, and small; the point is, we wanted to avoid personal judgments. It actually turned out to be quite a finely tuned scale.

Earthquakes, Judgment, Large, Originally, Remarkable, Three

Magnitude may be compared to the power output in kilowatts of a [radio] broadcasting station; local intensity, on the Mercalli or similar scale, is then comparable to the signal strength noted on a receiver at a given locality. Intensity, like signal strength, will generally fall off with distance from the source; it will also depend on local conditions at the point of observation, and to some extent on the conditions along the path from source to that point.

Conditions, Distance, Fall, Science, Station

If the assumptions used in calculating energy are changed, then this seriously affects the final result, even though the same body of data might be used.

Calculating, Data, Energy, Finals, Seriously

No joy in nature is so sublimely affecting as the joy of a mother at the good fortune of a child.

Child, Children, Good, Mother, Nature

Only fools, liars, and charlatans predict earthquakes

Charlatans, Earthquakes, Fool, Liars, Predict

Lately there have been complaints that the use of the magnitude scale is confusing, or at least the reporting of magnitudes in the newspapers 'confuses the public.

Confusing, Confusion, Reporting, Scale, Use

I have a sense of humor; but over the years that sense has developed one blind spot. I can no longer laugh at ignorance or stupidity. Those are our chief enemies, and it is dangerous to make fun of them.

Dangerous, Enemies, Fun, Ignorance, Make, Years

Refining is inevitable in science when you have made measurements of a phenomenon for a long period of time.

Long, Measurement, Phenomenon, Science