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 beauty of a scientific experiment lies in its elegance and simplicity.
It is essential to maintain international cooperation in scientific research, especially in sensitive areas like nuclear physics.
My life has been dedicated to science, and I have no regrets.
The discovery of artificial radioactivity was a true collaboration between my husband and me.
Science is a continuous process of building upon the work of those who came before us.
The potential for using radioactive isotopes in medicine is enormous.
We must always be vigilant against the misuse of scientific discoveries.
The greatest reward in science is the feeling of having contributed to human knowledge.
The atom holds secrets that are still waiting to be uncovered.
The pursuit of scientific excellence should be a lifelong endeavor.
One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.
Artificial radioactivity is a tool that will allow us to probe the secrets of the atom more deeply.
In science, we must not fear to go beyond the known; that is where discovery lies.
My mother taught me that science is not a solitary pursuit, but a shared adventure.
The Nobel Prize is not an end, but a beginning for further work.
Women in science face barriers, but persistence breaks them down.
Radioactivity is not just destruction; it holds the key to energy for humanity.
Life is too short to not pursue the truths of nature.
Curiosity is the spark that ignites scientific progress.
We must use science for peace, not for war.
Contemporaries of Irène Joliot-Curie
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Irène Joliot-Curie (1897–1956).