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)
The true scientist never loses the faculty of amazement. It is the essence of his being.
We synthesized new radioactive elements. This was not 'alchemy' in the old sense, but a modern transformation based on the laws of physics.
The fight against disease and suffering is a common ground where all nations can meet.
Scientific research is a collective work, built upon the contributions of many, past and present.
Do not be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile is achieved without it.
The discovery of artificial radioactivity showed that the atom was not immutable, but a world of change and possibility.
A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him like a fairy tale.
Precision in experiment is the cornerstone of discovery.
The Nobel Prize is not an end, but a beginning. It imposes a duty to continue working for science.
I have no dress except the one I wear every day. If you are going to be kind enough to give me one, please let it be practical and dark so that I can put it on afterwards to go to the laboratory.
The war showed the terrible power of science when misapplied. Our duty is to ensure it is applied for peace.
In research, patience is more important than brilliance.
The laboratory was my real school.
We are not rich enough to buy cheap things.
The public must understand science, for in a democracy, they decide its direction.
Isolation in science is a poor method. Exchange and discussion are vital.
My mother [Marie Curie] left me a precious heritage: her example of courage and dedication.
The atom, for peace, can light cities and heal the sick. For war, it brings only darkness.
Doubt is the beginning of all experimental science.
I am a socialist because I believe in the application of science and reason to social organization.
Contemporaries of Irène Joliot-Curie
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Irène Joliot-Curie (1897–1956).