Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck, (April 23, 1858 – October 4, 1947) was a German physicist who discovered quantum physics, initiating a revolution in natural science and philosophy. He is regarded as the founder of quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.
As early as in 1900 A.D. Max Planck developed the hypothesis that the exchange of radiance-energy takes place in little packets; called quanta, hence; quantum-mechanics, and it turned out, that particles like electrons behave themselves like waves, like water flowing trough an opening, and not like material marbles rolling or bouncing trough the same opening.
During a lecture in Florence the Nobel price winner said the following; “Gentlemen, As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such. All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. Considering that in the entire universe there is no intelligent force, nor an eternal force, - Mankind has been able to invent the much longed for Perpetuum Mobile - we have to assume a conscious and intelligent spirit behind this force. This spirit is the cause of all matter." Das Wesen der Materie [The Nature of Matter], speech at Florence, Italy (1944) (from Archiv zur Geschichte der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Abt. Va, Rep. 11 Planck, Nr. 1797)
Literal text in german;
"Meine Herren, als Physiker, der sein ganzes Leben der nüchternen Wissenschaft, der Erforschung der Materie widmete, bin ich sicher von dem Verdacht frei, für einen Schwarmgeist gehalten zu werden. Und so sage ich nach meinen Erforschungen des Atoms dieses: Es gibt keine Materie an sich. Alle Materie entsteht und besteht nur durch eine Kraft, welche die Atomteilchen in Schwingung bringt und sie zum winzigsten Sonnensystem des Alls zusammenhält. Da es im ganzen Weltall aber weder eine intelligente Kraft noch eine ewige Kraft gibt - es ist der Menschheit nicht gelungen, das heiß ersehnte Perpetuum mobile zu erfinden - so müssen wir hinter dieser Kraft einen bewußten intelligenten Geist annehmen. Dieser Geist ist der Urgrund aller Materie.
Most quotes end here, but he went on saying;
Nicht die sichtbare aber vergängliche Materie ist das Reale, Wahre, Wirkliche - denn die Materie bestünde ohne den Geist überhaupt nicht - , sondern der unsichtbare, unsterbliche Geist ist das Wahre! Da es aber Geist an sich ebenfalls nicht geben kann, sondern jeder Geist einem Wesen zugehört, müssen wir zwingend Geistwesen annehmen. Da aber auch Geistwesen nicht aus sich selber sein können, sondern geschaffen werden müssen, so scheue ich mich nicht, diesen geheimnisvollen Schöpfer ebenso zu benennen, wie ihn alle Kulturvölker der Erde früherer Jahrtausende genannt haben: Gott! Damit kommt der Physiker, der sich mit der Materie zu befassen hat, vom Reiche des Stoffes in das Reich des Geistes. Und damit ist unsere Aufgabe zu Ende, und wir müssen unser Forschen weitergeben in die Hände der Philosophie." Ref.
Translated into English (by me) it reads;
Not the visible yet transient matter is the real, true, reality - because matter would not even exist without spirit -, but the invisible, immortal spirit is reality! Since, however, spirit as such cannot exist, because every spirit belongs to a being, we have to compellingly accept a spiritual being. Since, however, spiritual beings cannot exist on their own either, but have to be created, I am not afraid of naming this mysterious creator the same as all cultural people of the earth have been doing for the past millennia; God! With that, the physicist who has occupied himself with matter is moving from the material realm into the realm of the spirit. And with it our task has come to an end, and we must transmit our research in the hands of philosophy.
The word Geist is usually translated with mind, but Geist in German, (same as the word "spirit" in English), has different meanings like; mind, head, brain, psyche, nous, wit, humor, brainpower, learning ability, mental capacity, mentality, reason, understanding, intellect, etc. but also; spirit and disembodied spirit. The literal translation of the word Geist into English would be "Ghost". as in Holy Ghost. You may pick your own choice, it will still be remarkable, but I think if he meant "intelligence" he would have used the word "intelligenz" which is the German word for it. Since he was a religious man I think he knew exactly what he was saying when he used the word Geist, namely "Spirit".
he did not exclude consciousness either;
I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness. Max Planck As quoted in The Observer (25 January 1931)
Planck made many contributions to physics, but is best known for quantum theory, which has revolutionized our understanding of the atomic and sub-atomic worlds. In his 1937 lecture "Religion and Naturwissenschaft," Planck expressed the view that God is everywhere present, and held that "the holiness of the unintelligible Godhead is conveyed by the holiness of symbols." Atheists, he thought, attach too much importance to what are merely symbols. Planck was a churchwarden from 1920 until his death, and believed in an almighty, all-knowing, beneficent God (though not necessarily a personal one). Both science and religion wage a "tireless battle against skepticism and dogmatism, against unbelief and superstition" with the goal "toward God!"
Under these conditions it is no wonder, that the movement of atheists, which declares religion to be just a deliberate illusion, invented by power-seeking priests, and which has for the pious belief in a higher Power nothing but words of mockery, eagerly makes use of progressive scientific knowledge and in a presumed unity with it, expands in an ever faster pace its disintegrating action on all nations of the earth and on all social levels. I do not need to explain in any more detail that after its victory not only all the most precious treasures of our culture would vanish, but — which is even worse — also any prospects at a better future. Religion und Naturwissenschaft (1958)