Jacques Monod
A molecular biologist who, with François Jacob, elucidated the mechanisms of gene regulation, particularly the operon model.
Most quoted
"Man must at last wake out of his millenary dream; and in doing so, wake to his total solitude, his fundamental isolation. He must realize that, like a gypsy, he lives on the boundary of an alien world; a world that is deaf to his music, just as indifferent to his hopes as it is to his sufferings or his crimes."
— from Chance and Necessity, 1970
"Pure chance, absolutely free but blind, at the very root of the stupendous edifice of evolution: this central concept of modern biology is no longer one among other possible or even conceivable hypotheses. It is today the sole conceivable hypothesis, the only one compatible with observed and tested fact."
— from Chance and Necessity, 1970
"And man must at last wake out of his millenary dream and discover his total solitude, his fundamental isolation. He must realize that, like a gypsy, he lives on the boundary of an alien world; a world that is deaf to his music, and as indifferent to his hopes as it is to his suffering or his crimes."
— from Chance and Necessity, 1970
All quotes by Jacques Monod (353)
The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
Man is the only animal that knows it will die.
The greatest challenge facing humanity is to reconcile our scientific understanding with our spiritual needs.
The universe is a vast and indifferent machine.
We are all made of stardust.
The pursuit of knowledge is the highest form of human endeavor.
The human mind is a product of evolution.
There is no God, and we are his prophets.
The only thing that matters is how we live our lives.
The universe is a beautiful and terrifying place.
We are all connected.
The future is uncertain, but we must face it with courage.
The greatest act of courage is to be yourself.
Life is a precious gift.
The human spirit is indomitable.
We are all searching for meaning in a meaningless world.
The universe is full of wonders.
Death is not the end, but a new beginning.
The only way to find happiness is to give it away.
We are all responsible for our own choices.
Contemporaries of Jacques Monod
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Jacques Monod (1910–1976).