Ahmed Zewail
He won the Nobel Prize for his pioneering work in femtochemistry, observing chemical reactions in real time.
Most quoted
"The difference between a good scientist and a great scientist is that the great one knows when to stop looking for the perfect answer and just publish the darn thing."
— from Advice to Students
"My colleagues sometimes ask why I spend so much time on such tiny things. I tell them, 'Because the big things are just collections of tiny things acting strangely.'"
— from Informal Conversation
"Some people see a glass half empty, others see it half full. I see it as a container with a certain volume of liquid, and I want to know its chemical composition."
— from Informal Chat
All quotes by Ahmed Zewail (419)
To truly understand the world, we must be willing to challenge our own preconceived notions and biases.
The pursuit of scientific truth is a moral imperative, not just an intellectual exercise.
We need to move beyond the 'copy-paste' mentality in education and encourage genuine creativity and problem-solving.
The universe is a vast laboratory, and we are only just beginning to understand its fundamental laws.
The idea that science is a purely objective endeavor is a myth; human biases and perspectives always play a role, which is why critical self-reflection is vital.
We must not allow fear of the unknown to stifle scientific exploration and progress.
The most important lesson science teaches us is humility in the face of the vastness of knowledge yet to be acquired.
The future of humanity depends on our ability to harness scientific knowledge responsibly and ethically.
We need to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding to ensure informed societal decisions.
The future belongs to those who think and work in the interdisciplinary spaces between traditional fields.
Science is a truly human endeavor, and it knows no boundaries.
The camera is now open for business on the atomic scale, and we can see atoms in motion.
Femtochemistry: The atomic motion in the transition state region of chemical reactions.
In the femtosecond world, the uncertainty principle imposes a blurring on the energy of the states involved.
The electron is a wave, and we can use it to take snapshots of atoms and molecules.
Research is an investment in the future, not an expense.
The microscope of time allows us to see the very act of chemical bonds breaking and forming.
We need to build bridges between cultures and between sciences.
The language of science is universal, but its applications must serve humanity.
Curiosity is the engine of science.
Contemporaries of Ahmed Zewail
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Ahmed Zewail (1946–2016).