Zwicky -- undoubtedly an original thinker and great astronomer -- is
(in)famous as an outspoken critic of other astronomers. Here are some
anecdotes taken from the centenery website, which contains more
information on Zwicky: [ o-link ]
Zwicky used to call other astronomers at Mount Wilson observatory
"Spherical bastards". Why spherical? "Because they were bastards, when
looked at from any side".
The Zwicky's inviting some graduate students for dinner. As the group
was ringing the door bell, Zwicki's wife Dorothea opened and called into
the house "Fritz, the bastards are here!".
While observing at Mount Wilson, when the seeing was particularly bad,
Zwicky told the telescope assistant to shoot a gun into the turbulent
air, hoping to smooth the turbulence. The gun was shot..... but the
turbulence stayed.
In the halls of the Physics building at Caltech, Zwicky used to start
a conversation with students whose name he did not know with the words:
"Who the devil are you?".
Zwicky was discussing the beginning of the universe with a priest. When
the priest said that the universe started with "And There is Light",
Zwicky replied that he would buy this if it would be changed to "And
There is Electromagnetism"
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