Linus Pauling

Chemical bond theory, peace activism

Modern influential 124 sayings

Sayings by Linus Pauling

Every man of science has some favorite hypothesis which he cultivates, and with which he is so intimately bound up, that he would be glad to see it universally adopted.

1950s — Speech/Writing
Humorous Unverifiable

I think that we should make the world safe for differences.

1960s — Speech/Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I believe that there is a way to make the world better, and that we have a responsibility to find it.

1970s — General statement
Humorous Unverifiable

Do not let your special talents in chemistry, your love for chemistry, keep you from developing your talents in other fields. Do not let yourself be a narrow specialist.

1940s-1950s — Advice to students
Humorous Unverifiable

The only way to cope with a problem is to go right at it, and the only way to solve a problem is to keep on working at it until you've solved it.

1960s — Interview/General advice
Humorous Unverifiable

I believe that the scientist has a special responsibility. He has a special responsibility to use his knowledge for the benefit of mankind.

1950s-1960s — Acceptance speech/Lecture
Humorous Unverifiable

I have spent a good deal of my life trying to get people to eat more vitamin C.

1970s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

You can't just have a good idea. You have to have a lot of good ideas.

1960s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I am convinced that there is no disease that cannot be cured by a proper intake of vitamin C.

1970s — Interview/Writing
Humorous Unverifiable

The greatest discoveries of science have always been made by those who were not afraid to challenge the existing paradigms.

1960s — Speech/Writing
Humorous Unverifiable

Science is the search for truth, and engineering is the search for ways to make things work.

1950s-1960s — Interview/Lecture
Humorous Unverifiable

I have always been interested in the nature of things, and especially in the nature of life.

1970s — Autobiographical writing
Humorous Unverifiable

I believe that the future of humanity depends on our ability to cooperate and to solve the problems that confront us.

1960s-1970s — Speech/Writing
Humorous Unverifiable

I am a firm believer in the power of the human mind to solve problems.

1960s — General statement
Humorous Unverifiable

I am not afraid to be wrong, because I know that I can learn from my mistakes.

1960s — Interview/General statement
Humorous Unverifiable

The most important thing in science is to ask the right questions.

1950s-1960s — Lecture/Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I have always been a pacifist, and I believe that war is never the answer.

1960s — Activism/Writing
Humorous Unverifiable

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

1970s — Speech/Writing
Humorous Unverifiable

I believe that every human being has the potential to be a creative genius.

1960s-1970s — General statement
Humorous Unverifiable

The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.

1950s-1970s — General statement
Humorous Unverifiable