Quote of the Day

Today's quote comes from the opening lines of States of Matter, David Goodstein's book on statistical physics. He writes:

"Ludwig Boltzman, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand. Paul Ehrenfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933. Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics. Perhaps it will be wise to approach the subject cautiously."

Maybe things will be safer for those of us who apply statistical mechanics tools to complex systems? Anyway, this is a word of caution for those who want to join my research group...