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)
A good comeback in debate sharpens scientific argument.
Chemistry bridges the microscopic and the macroscopic worlds.
Life's meaning is found in contributing to human progress.
The Nobel is a recognition, but work continues.
In correspondence with Einstein, we pondered atomic energy's future.
Experiments must be repeatable to be believed.
Motherhood and research are both creative acts.
War's shadow makes peace's science urgent.
A joke about failed reactions lightens the mood.
The pursuit of truth is life's noblest endeavor.
Artificial elements expand chemistry's horizons.
Friendships in science endure beyond discoveries.
Skepticism is the scientist's best tool.
Art and science both seek beauty in patterns.
On my deathbed, I regret nothing but unfinished experiments.
Collaboration with my husband was my greatest achievement.
Politics of science must prioritize humanity.
A witty retort to critics: 'Results speak louder than words.'
The meaning of life is in the questions we ask.
We were able to show that the new radioelements, which we named 'radioactive isotopes,' behave chemically in every respect like their non-radioactive counterparts.
Contemporaries of Irène Joliot-Curie
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Irène Joliot-Curie (1897–1956).