Professor Frederickson Quotes in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Wayne Szalinski: And given that my machine can substantially reduce the size of bulky payloads... And fuel supplies of the savings to the space program would be staggering.

Professor Frederickson: Mr. Szalinski, are you trying to tell me that suddenly size is no longer relative?

Wayne Szalinski: Well, that's right, Professor Frederickson, and that all matter is made up of not only density but of empty space, and if we can proportionally reduce the amount of empty space in any given object, we can, thereby, shrink the object.

Professor Frederickson: Uh-huh. Where's your proof?

Wayne Szalinski: When Einstein came up with the atomic bomb, did they ask him to prove that it worked?

Professor Frederickson: You, Mr. Szalinski, are hardly Einstein.

[the audience laughs]

Wayne Szalinski: I picked a name.

Professor Frederickson: You have, however, managed to shrink one thing: the size of the audience.

[stands up]

Professor Frederickson: Gentlemen, ladies, I don't know about you, but I'm going to lunch.

[leaves along with the rest]

[during the conference; several audience members leave]

Wayne Szalinski: ...And given that my machine can substantially reduce the size of bulky payloads and fuel supplies, the savings to the space program would be staggering.

Professor Frederickson: [puzzled at Wayne's invention] Mr. Szalinski, are you trying to tell me that suddenly size is no longer relative?

Wayne Szalinski: That's right, Professor Frederickson; and with the amount of space in any given object, we can thereby shrink the object.

Professor Frederickson: Uh-huh, where's your proof?

Wayne Szalinski: When Einstein came up with the Atomic Bomb, did they ask him to prove that it worked?

Professor Frederickson: You, Mr. Szalinski, are hardly Einstein.

[audience laughs]

Wayne Szalinski: I picked a name.

Professor Frederickson: You have, however, managed to shrink one thing: the size of this audience!

[to the rest of the audience]

Professor Frederickson: Gentlemen, ladies, I don't know about you; but I'm going to lunch.

[Professor Frederickson and the rest of the audience get up to leave; Dr. Brainard approaches the stage and stops Wayne]

Dr. Brainard: Pardon me. Wayne. Wayne.

Wayne Szalinski: Oh, hi, Dr. Brainard.

Dr. Brainard: Don't take it too hard, Wayne. It'll take time to convince people without proof.

Wayne Szalinski: I appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

Dr. Brainard: [as the two leave the conference room] By the way, you were right about the electric flea collar: the extension cord was a bad idea.