我努力过一种没有遗憾的生活。这是真正自由的唯一途径。

The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.

最好的决定是在数据和直觉的交汇处做出的。

我一直觉得奇怪……我们钦佩的那些品质，如善良、慷慨、开放、诚实、理解和同情，在我们的体系中往往是失败的伴随物。而我们厌恶的那些特质，如精明、贪婪、占有欲、卑鄙、自负和自私，却是成功的特质。虽然人们钦佩前者的品质，但他们却喜欢后者的产物。

1983年12月，杨振宁向邓小平建议

What's terrible is to pretend that second-rate is first-rate. To pretend that you don't need love when you do; or you like your work when you know quite well you're capable of better.

心是脆弱的东西，容易破碎，但也有巨大的爱和韧性。