Wilhelm Ostwald
He made significant contributions to catalysis, chemical equilibria, and reaction velocities, winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Most quoted
"All scientific work is incomplete — whether it be observational or experimental. All scientific work is liable to be upset or modified by advancing knowledge. That does not confer upon us a freedom to ignore the knowledge we already have, or to postpone the action that it appears to demand at a given time."
— from Essays
"The true method of discovery is like the flight of an aeroplane. It starts from the ground of particular observation; it makes a flight in the thin air of imaginative generalization; and it again lands for renewed observation rendered acute by rational interpretation."
— from The Philosophy of Science
"The laws of thermodynamics control, in the last resort, the rise and fall of political systems, the freedom or bondage of nations, the movements of commerce and industry, the origins of wealth and poverty, and the general physical welfare of the human race."
— from Der energetische Imperativ, 1912
All quotes by Wilhelm Ostwald (387)
Meaning is not a destination, but a continuous process of creation and discovery, shaped by our choices and experiences.
The beauty of the universe is a testament to its intricate design and its boundless creativity.
Life is a grand experiment, and we are all participants. Embrace the unknown, and learn from every outcome.
Death is a reminder that all things are impermanent, and that our time here is finite. Live with intention.
The human condition is a complex interplay of reason and emotion, of logic and intuition.
Consciousness is the bridge between the material and the spiritual, allowing us to experience both worlds.
Truth is often found in the spaces between what we think we know and what we are willing to explore.
To find meaning, one must be willing to confront the existential questions and to forge one's own path.
The beauty of a moment is often in its fleeting nature, its uniqueness, and its unrepeatability.
Life is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. Embrace change, for it is the only constant.
Death, in its finality, can bring a profound sense of peace and acceptance.
The human condition is defined by our capacity for both immense cruelty and boundless compassion.
Consciousness is the ultimate frontier of scientific and philosophical inquiry.
There are no atoms, only energy.
All natural phenomena can be reduced to energy transformations.
Matter is nothing but a complex of energies.
The concept of matter is a superfluous metaphysical hypothesis.
The atomic hypothesis is a convenient fiction, but not a reality.
The goal of science is to understand the transformations of energy.
Chemistry is the science of the transformations of energy and its forms.
Contemporaries of Wilhelm Ostwald
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932).