Who said “All science is either physics or stamp collecting.”?

Disputed

It's credited to Ernest Rutherford, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNot documented in Rutherford's own writings. Credited to him by J. B. Birks, Rutherford at Manchester (1962).

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Cite this quote

APA

“All science is either physics or stamp collecting.” [Quotation attributed to Ernest Rutherford]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36850-all-science-is-either-physics-or-stamp-collecting/

MLA

“All science is either physics or stamp collecting.” Attributed to Ernest Rutherford. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36850-all-science-is-either-physics-or-stamp-collecting/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“All science is either physics or stamp collecting.” Attributed to Ernest Rutherford. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36850-all-science-is-either-physics-or-stamp-collecting/.