Gilbert N. Lewis

Chemistry American 1875 – 1946 412 quotes

He introduced the concept of covalent bonding and the Lewis dot structure for molecules.

Most quoted

"We may say that a basic substance is one which has a lone pair of electrons which may be used to complete the stable group of another atom, and that an acid is one which can employ a lone pair from another molecule in completing the stable group of one of its own atoms."

— from Valence and the Structure of Atoms and Molecules, 1923

"I have no patience with attempts to identify science with measurement, which is but one of its tools, or with any definition of the scientist which would exclude a Darwin, a Pasteur, or a Kekule."

— from The Anatomy of Science, 1926

"The essential feature of the theory of relativity is that it introduces a new conception of space and time, not that it modifies the laws of mechanics and electrodynamics."

— from The Anatomy of Science, 1926

All quotes by Gilbert N. Lewis (412)

The electron is not merely a particle; it is also a wave.

The Conservation of Photons 1926

The photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic field.

The Conservation of Photons 1926

Light consists of discrete particles, or quanta, which we may call photons.

The Conservation of Photons 1926

Free energy is the driving force of chemical reactions.

Thermodynamics and the Free Energy of Chemical Substances 1923

The entropy of a system tends to a maximum.

Thermodynamics and the Free Energy of Chemical Substances 1923

The concept of free energy is essential for understanding chemical equilibrium.

Thermodynamics and the Free Energy of Chemical Substances 1923

The universe is a vast chemical laboratory.

Attributed

Science is not a collection of facts, but a way of thinking.

Attributed

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.

Attributed (often misattributed to Einstein, but reflects Lewis's sentiment)

The true scientist is a dreamer, and a dreamer who can make his dreams come true.

Attributed

The future of chemistry lies in the understanding of the electron.

The Atom and the Molecule 1916

The electron is the most fundamental particle in chemistry.

The Atom and the Molecule 1916

The chemical bond is the glue that holds the universe together.

Attributed

The beauty of chemistry lies in its simplicity.

Attributed

The atom is a miniature solar system.

The Atom and the Molecule 1916

The electron is the key to understanding all chemical phenomena.

The Atom and the Molecule 1916

The most profound truths are often the simplest.

Attributed

The scientific method is the only reliable path to knowledge.

Attributed

The universe is governed by a few simple laws.

Attributed

The pursuit of knowledge is the noblest of all human endeavors.

Attributed