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)
The ability to visualize molecular dynamics has revolutionized our understanding of chemical processes.
Science is about asking 'why' and 'how'.
The future is shaped by the choices we make today.
The universe is far more complex and beautiful than we can ever imagine.
The impact of science extends far beyond the laboratory.
My journey has been one of continuous learning and discovery.
The precision of femtochemistry allows us to dissect the elementary steps of chemical reactions.
The greatest gift you can give is your knowledge and experience.
Science is a bridge between cultures and nations.
The pursuit of understanding is what makes us human.
Science is not just a body of knowledge, but a way of thinking.
The femtosecond is the stopwatch for the molecular world.
In the dance of atoms, we witness the rhythm of creation.
True discovery comes from curiosity, not from compulsion.
The universe is a grand experiment, and we are its observers.
Peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of science.
Every child is a scientist at heart; we must nurture that spark.
Chemistry is the poetry of matter.
Failure in science is not defeat; it's data.
The bridge between East and West is built on shared knowledge.
Contemporaries of Ahmed Zewail
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Ahmed Zewail (1946–2016).