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)
Time at the atomic scale reveals the secrets of eternity.
Humor in the lab keeps the mind sharp and the spirit light.
Life's meaning is found in the pursuit of truth.
Innovation thrives where freedom of thought prevails.
Atoms don't discriminate; neither should scientists.
The Nobel is a beginning, not an end.
In femtochemistry, we capture the moment of change.
Wisdom is knowing when to question everything.
Science without ethics is a dangerous path.
Laughter is the best catalyst for collaboration.
The journey from Cairo to Caltech was fueled by dreams.
Global challenges demand global scientific unity.
Every experiment is a story waiting to be told.
Resilience is the hallmark of true scientists.
The past informs the future, but doesn't dictate it.
Mentoring is the invisible force behind progress.
Quantum leaps happen one femtosecond at a time.
In science, as in life, timing is everything.
Doubt is the engine of discovery.
A witty remark can disarm the toughest debate.
Contemporaries of Ahmed Zewail
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Ahmed Zewail (1946–2016).