Alfred Werner
He developed the coordination theory of transition metal complexes, revolutionizing inorganic chemistry.
Most quoted
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
— from Attributed
"The existence of isomers, differing only in the spatial arrangement of their constituent atoms, provides strong evidence for the three-dimensional nature of molecules."
— from Habilitationsschrift, University of Zurich, 1893
"The primary valencies are those which are satisfied by the formation of ions, while the secondary valencies are satisfied by the formation of non-ionizable groups."
— from Neuere Anschauungen auf dem Gebiete der anorganischen Chemie, 1907
All quotes by Alfred Werner (414)
The only thing more difficult than proving a new theory is convincing others it's true.
I've often found that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one, even if it's the most revolutionary.
To those who say my structures are too complex, I say nature is rarely simple.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge.
My work is often misunderstood, but then, so is the universe.
If you want to understand chemistry, don't just read about it; do it.
The history of chemistry is a history of challenging assumptions.
A true chemist sees beauty in the arrangement of atoms.
The most profound truths in chemistry are often the most elegant.
I prefer to be wrong with a good theory than right with no explanation.
The universe is a grand chemical experiment, and we are merely observers.
My theories are not just models; they are reflections of reality.
The only limit to our understanding of chemistry is our imagination.
Chemistry is the art of transforming matter, and the science of understanding those transformations.
The atom is not merely a building block; it is a universe in miniature, reflecting the grand design of existence.
To understand the structure of a molecule is to glimpse the mind of the Creator, for order and beauty are inherent in its very being.
Our quest for knowledge is a journey into the unknown, a perpetual unfolding of truth that reveals the limitations of our current understanding.
Life itself is a complex chemical reaction, a delicate balance of forces that, once disrupted, returns to its simpler components.
Death is not an end, but a transformation, a rearrangement of the elements that once constituted our being, returning to the cosmic pool.
Consciousness, though seemingly intangible, must arise from the intricate dance of matter, a testament to the emergent properties of complexity.
Contemporaries of Alfred Werner
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Alfred Werner (1866–1919).