Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Considered the 'father of modern neuroscience' for his pioneering work on the structure of the nervous system, demonstrating the neuron doctrine.
Most quoted
"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."
— from Recollections of My Life
"What is a scientist after all? It is a curious man looking through a keyhole, the keyhole of the enigma of nature, trying to understand what is going on."
— from Recuerdos de mi vida
"The growth and development of the nervous system proceed by the formation of new connections between neurons, not by the fusion of pre-existing elements."
— from New Ideas on the Structure of the Nervous System in Man and Vertebrates, 1891
All quotes by Santiago Ramón y Cajal (380)
The neuron doctrine is the cornerstone of modern neuroscience.
Persistence in research is the key to unlocking nature's secrets.
Art and science are twins, born of the same human spirit.
To every old man who has lived a useful life, death comes as a welcome release.
The silver staining method revealed the hidden architecture of the nervous system.
Humor is the great solvent of awkwardness.
In science, as in love, the greatest discoveries come from passion.
Every scientist is a philosopher at heart.
The Golgi method was a revelation, but the neuron stands alone.
Life's true value lies in the pursuit of knowledge.
Wit is the salt of conversation.
The nervous system is a symphony of individual players.
Failure in science is but a step towards success.
Beauty in science is the harmony of truth and elegance.
I have always believed that the brain is the most complex structure in the universe.
Love of science is the secret to a long and happy life.
A good comeback is sharper than a scalpel.
Philosophy without science is blind; science without philosophy is lame.
The degeneration of neurons teaches us the fragility of life.
True wisdom comes from questioning everything.
Contemporaries of Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934).