This book is a translation of a collection of articles by the famous American physicist, Nobel laureate, E. Wigner . The articles are devoted to various problems of physics, reflections on the fate of science, memories of major scientists with whom the author had the opportunity to meet and work. In particular, the author examines in detail the role of symmetry principles in physics, their significance for the selection, classification and prediction of new laws of nature. Some works of a more special nature are included as a supplement. The book is of interest to wide circles of scientists: physicists, mathematicians, historians of science, philosophers.