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 microscope is a wonderful instrument, but it is also a great deceiver.
Science is a good thing in its place, but it is not everything.
The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the ingenuity of its contrivances.
It is a great misfortune to be born with a scientific turn of mind, for it makes one discontented with everything else.
The greatest discovery I ever made was that I knew nothing.
I have often thought that if I had my life to live over again, I would be a gardener.
The world is full of wonders, but we are too busy to notice them.
It is a great pity that we cannot live forever, for there is so much to learn.
The more I know, the more I realize how much I don't know.
I have always been a great admirer of ignorance, for it is the mother of all knowledge.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
I have often wondered why it is that the most ignorant people are always the most dogmatic.
The world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
Life is a journey, not a destination.
The only thing I know for certain is that I know nothing.
I am not a man of many words, but I am a man of many thoughts.
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
It is a great misfortune to be born with a scientific mind, for it makes one question everything.
The greatest discovery is to find out that you don't know everything.
I have often thought that if I had my life to live over again, I would be a botanist.
Contemporaries of Robert Brown
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Robert Brown (1773–1858).