Charles K. Kao is a scientist who has changed the world. He invented fiber optics and won the Nobel Prize in Physics for it. He also founded Akamai, which makes the Internet work faster. But these accomplishments are just part of what makes him great. Charles K. Kao quotes show how this man thinks about life and learning, and they teach us all something valuable about what it means to be human:
“Data is not knowledge”
Charles K. Kao is a Taiwanese-American engineer and scientist who was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on fiber optics, which enabled the development of broadband internet.
Charles K. Kao quotes: “Data is not knowledge”
You may be familiar with the quote, but did you know it’s from Charles K. Kao? In this article, we’ll explore where he got his inspiration for this famous line and how it applies to today’s world.
“The Internet is just a world passing around notes in a classroom”
If the Internet is a place for anything, it’s a place for people to come together and share ideas.
That’s what the Internet is all about. It’s not just some place where you can buy things at Amazon or find out how high your cholesterol might be if you eat too many donuts; it’s also a forum for collaboration and learning. In fact, Kao claims that these days there are more opportunities for “global” interactions than ever before, thanks to advances in telecommunications technology (and also just plain ol’ human curiosity).
“If you want to live for yourself and enjoy the fruits of your labor, you should strive to learn something new every day.”
If you want to live for yourself and enjoy the fruits of your labor, you should strive to learn something new every day. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or fail in the process. If you find yourself falling behind or struggling with a concept, don’t give up! You are not alone, and there are always people who can help. The most important thing is that you try—even if it isn’t easy at first.
When I was younger I would often get frustrated when others did not understand my ideas or questions because I wanted them to be able to answer them immediately without any additional input from me. But now that I have matured some more and realized that everyone has their own unique way of learning information (and some people may even have difficulty processing certain types), it helps keep my ego in check knowing these things before speaking up again.”
“Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater advantage. We can get very discouraged when things are not going well, but we have to remember that we are all creative spirits, and there is always, always something positive that will come out of whatever challenges you face.”
The next time you face adversity, remember that it could be the seed of an equal or greater advantage. We can get very discouraged when things are not going well, but we have to remember that we are all creative spirits, and there is always, always something positive that will come out of whatever challenges you face.
“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing”
“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing”
Charles K. Kao, winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics and inventor of fiber optics, knows that failure is an important step towards success. In fact, he argues that failure is where you learn the most as a person and as a scientist: “You don’t get anything worthwhile without failure.”
“A teacher without students is nothing but a person who talks to himself. I have been talking to myself for a long time, and I know what it’s like.”
“A teacher without students is nothing but a person who talks to himself. I have been talking to myself for a long time, and I know what it’s like.”
As you learn new things, your perspective on the world changes. Your opinions change and your understanding expands. A good teacher should be able to listen as well as speak. A good teacher should be able to learn from their students just as much as they teach them; it’s an exchange that grows with each interaction. When you’re learning something new, there will always be gaps in your understanding—but if the other person is patient enough, they can help fill those gaps by explaining things clearly and thoroughly until you understand not only what you need to do next but also why it works that way instead of some other way or no way at all (which sometimes feels like another option).
“Creativity is changing the notion of how things are done into those that can be done. It’s about changing your attitude and imagination.”
“Creativity is changing the notion of how things are done into those that can be done. It’s about changing your attitude and imagination.”
Charles K. Kao, one of the pioneers in fiber-optic communication systems, once said: “Creativity is the ability to see something new in an old thing and not only see it but do it.” We agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly, which is why we’re dedicated to helping our clients push themselves and their companies past their preconceived notions of what they think they can achieve.
These quotes from Charles K. Kao show his character as a scientist and as a human being.
Charles K. Kao was a physicist, engineer, and educator who received the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work in fiber optics. His career began at Bell Labs in New Jersey and went on to include positions at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Princeton University, Harvard University, and finally Berkeley where he founded their optical telecommunications program.
MORE Charles K. Kao Quotes
If you really look at it, I was trying to sell a dream … There was very little I could put in concrete to tell these people it was really real.
When information is infinite, individual pieces of information are worth nothing.
The primary school I attended in Shanghai was a very liberal one, established by scholars who had return from an education in France. The children of leading families were enrolled there, including the son of a well-known man believed to be a top gangster of the underworld!
Maybe it was the home tutoring, or the late start to formal schooling, or an overly cautious and protective upbringing, but in any case, I never became a talkative person. As an adult, I am not always comfortable in social gatherings with small talk. I must have inherited my father’s gentle nature.
Ideas do not always come in a flash but by diligent trial-and-error experiments that take time and thought.
Because of the earlier loss of the two elder siblings, my brother and I lived a very pampered and protected life. Nursemaids kept constant watch. With my parents busy at dinner parties and social events, we only met them as if for a daily royal audience.
When you are young, you are fervent about the things you believe in. Charles K. Kao
The primary school I attended in Shanghai was a very liberal one, established by scholars who had return from an education in France. The children of leading families were enrolled there, including the son of a well-known man believed to be a top gangster of the underworld! Charles K. Kao
Maybe it was the home tutoring, or the late start to formal schooling, or an overly cautious and protective upbringing, but in any case, I never became a talkative person. As an adult, I am not always comfortable in social gatherings with small talk. I must have inherited my father’s gentle nature. Charles K. Kao
When information is infinite, individual pieces of information are worth nothing. Charles K. Kao
Ideas do not always come in a flash but by diligent trial-and-error experiments that take time and thought. Charles K. Kao
Kao was born in Shanghai on October 28th 1935 and died September 9th 2013 at age 77 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife Ruth Gorrell Kao as well as two children from an earlier marriage with Doris Kimball: David Tse-Yuen Kao and Victoria Hui-Yin Yau (AKA Victoria Hui).
Conclusion
Charles K. Kao was a great scientist and human being, who made many contributions to society and changed the way we think about technology. His passion for innovation and his impact will continue to be felt for generations to come.