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)
In the silence of space, man must find his voice.
The cornerstone of the scientific method is the postulate of objectivity of nature. That is to say, the systematic denial that 'true' knowledge can be extracted from the interpretation of phenomena in terms of final causes—that is to say, of 'purpose'.
Man knows that he is alone in the unfeeling immensity of the universe, out of which he emerged only by chance. His duty is to choose.
The ancient covenant is in pieces; man at last knows that he is alone in the unfeeling immensity of the universe, out of which he emerged only by chance. Neither his destiny nor his duty is anywhere spelled out. It is up to him to choose between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light.
Chance alone is at the source of every innovation, of all creation in the biosphere. Pure chance, absolutely free but blind, at the very root of the stupendous edifice of evolution.
The scientific attitude implies that we are prepared to accept that what we find out about the world may not be to our liking.
The cell is a chemical machine. Its performance is determined by the properties of its constituent molecules.
The ultimate truth of the scientific method is that it is a method of doubt.
The scientific attitude is the only one that is both rational and effective.
The protein is the machine, the enzyme is the tool, the gene is the blueprint.
The scientific method is the only one that allows us to distinguish between what is true and what is false.
The scientific attitude is a choice, a moral choice, to base one's understanding of the world on objective knowledge rather than on subjective belief.
The scientific method is a systematic denial that 'true' knowledge can be extracted from the interpretation of phenomena in terms of final causes.
The scientific attitude is the only one that can lead to a true understanding of the world.
The scientific attitude is a commitment to the objective truth, whatever it may be.
The scientific attitude is a constant struggle against illusion and prejudice.
The scientific attitude is a humble recognition of the limits of human knowledge.
The scientific attitude is a courageous acceptance of the unknown.
The scientific attitude is a relentless pursuit of truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
The scientific attitude is a profound respect for the facts, however inconvenient they may be.
Contemporaries of Jacques Monod
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Jacques Monod (1910–1976).