Robert Brown
A botanist who discovered the nucleus in plant cells and described Brownian motion, the random movement of particles in a fluid.
Most quoted
"I have, however, been enabled to satisfy myself that the particles or molecules of the pollen of plants, and indeed of many other organic as well as inorganic bodies, when suspended in water, are in a state of constant and rapid oscillatory motion."
— from A Brief Account of Microscopical Observations Made in the Months of June, July, and August, 1827, on the Particles Contained in the Pollen of Plants; and on the General Existence of Active Molecules in Organic and Inorganic Bodies., 1827
"This motion was such as to satisfy me, after frequently repeated observation, that it was not caused either by currents in the fluid, or by its gradual evaporation, but belonged to the particle itself."
— from A Brief Account of Microscopical Observations Made in the Months of June, July, and August, 1827, on the Particles Contained in the Pollen of Plants; and on the General Existence of Active Molecules in Organic and Inorganic Bodies., 1827
"This motion was such as to satisfy me, after frequently repeated observation, that it arose neither from currents in the fluid, nor from its gradual evaporation, but belonged to the particle itself."
— from A Brief Account of Microscopical Observations Made in the Months of June, July, and August, 1827, on the Particles Contained in the Pollen of Plants; and on the General Existence of Active Molecules in Organic and Inorganic Bodies, 1827
All quotes by Robert Brown (343)
The world is a garden, and we are all its cultivators.
Life is a dance, and we are all learning the steps.
The only thing I know for certain is that change is constant.
I am not a man of many certainties, but I am a man of many possibilities.
The more I experiment, the more I realize how much there is to experiment with.
The existence of a nucleus in the cells of plants, and its universal occurrence, may be considered as one of the most important discoveries in the history of botany.
The Brownian motion, as it has been called, is a phenomenon of such general occurrence that it must be considered as a fundamental property of matter.
The ultimate particles of matter are in a state of perpetual motion.
The more we examine the works of nature, the more we are convinced of the infinite wisdom and power of the Creator.
Every plant, however humble, has its own peculiar beauty and its own peculiar lesson.
The study of botany is not merely the study of names and forms, but of life and its manifold manifestations.
To understand nature is to understand ourselves.
The greatest discoveries are often made by observing the smallest things.
Science is the pursuit of truth, and truth is the foundation of all knowledge.
The beauty of a flower is not in its color alone, but in its intricate structure and its purpose in the grand scheme of nature.
Life is a continuous process of change and adaptation.
Death is not the end, but a transformation.
Consciousness is the ultimate mystery, a reflection of the divine.
The meaning of life is to seek knowledge and to contribute to the understanding of the world around us.
Truth is often hidden in plain sight, waiting to be discovered by those who are willing to look closely.
Contemporaries of Robert Brown
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Robert Brown (1773–1858).