Irène Joliot-Curie
She, along with her husband Frédéric Joliot-Curie, discovered artificial radioactivity.
Most quoted
"We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like the radium a benefit for humanity."
— from Biography
"We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like radium, a benefit for humanity."
— from Nobel Lecture, 'Artificial Production of Radioactive Elements', 1935
"Humanity needs practical men, who get the most out of their work, and, without forgetting the general good, safeguard their own interests. But humanity also needs dreamers, for whom the disinterested development of an enterprise is so captivating that it becomes impossible for them to devote their care to their own material profit."
— from Likely derived from Marie Curie
All quotes by Irène Joliot-Curie (405)
If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.
The unexamined life is not worth living.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
The mind is everything. What you think you become.
Science, like life, is ever-evolving. To stand still is to perish.
The greatest joy in science is to discover something new, to understand a little more of the universe's secrets.
Our work is a continuous quest for truth, a journey into the unknown that defines our humanity.
To be a scientist is to embrace uncertainty, to find beauty in the questions rather than just the answers.
Life is a series of experiments, some successful, some not, but all contributing to our understanding.
The universe doesn't care about our beliefs; it simply is. Our task is to observe and comprehend.
In every atom, there is a universe of wonder. To ignore it is to ignore a part of ourselves.
Death is not an end, but a transformation, a return to the fundamental elements that compose us.
The pursuit of knowledge is a spiritual endeavor, connecting us to something larger than ourselves.
Consciousness is the universe's way of observing itself, a fleeting but profound miracle.
The beauty of science lies in its ability to reveal the intricate dance of nature, a symphony of forces.
Our existence, however brief, holds the potential for immense discovery and understanding.
Truth is not static; it evolves with our understanding, demanding constant re-evaluation.
To truly live is to question, to explore, to never be satisfied with superficial answers.
Contemporaries of Irène Joliot-Curie
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Irène Joliot-Curie (1897–1956).