Gerhard Domagk
Discovered the first sulfonamide drug, Prontosil, which was effective against bacterial infections.
Most quoted
"The fight against infectious diseases is a fight against the invisible, but it is a fight we can win with the weapons of chemistry and perseverance."
— from Speech on Chemotherapy, 1935
"I believe that the future of medicine lies in chemotherapy, in finding specific substances that can target and destroy disease-causing organisms."
— from Diary entry
"Some colleagues believe that if you stare at a problem long enough, it will eventually solve itself. I prefer a more active form of persuasion."
— from Laboratory notes
All quotes by Gerhard Domagk (423)
Some problems are so complex, they require a certain degree of elegant simplicity to solve. Or a very large hammer.
The human body is a chemical factory, and sometimes it needs a new recipe.
I've always found that the most interesting questions are the ones that make you feel slightly foolish for not having asked them sooner.
To cure a disease, one must first understand its language. And sometimes, that language is remarkably ungrammatical.
The greatest challenge in medicine is not finding the cure, but convincing the body to accept it.
My laboratory is a place where we encourage mistakes, as long as they are interesting mistakes.
One must have a healthy skepticism for conventional wisdom. It often stands in the way of genuine progress.
The beauty of chemistry is that it allows us to rearrange the world, one molecule at a time.
I've learned more from my failures than from my successes. Though I prefer the successes, naturally.
The microbes are always one step ahead, but we are learning to run faster.
Some people see problems; I see opportunities for a good chemical reaction.
The human body is a complex orchestra, and sometimes it needs a new conductor.
The most important tool in a scientist's arsenal is not the microscope, but a healthy dose of curiosity and a willingness to be wrong.
Progress in medicine is often a matter of convincing nature to reveal its secrets, one reluctant whisper at a time.
I believe in the power of observation, even when what you observe is utterly baffling.
My work is a constant reminder that even the smallest things can have the biggest impact.
If you want to make a discovery, you must be prepared to look where no one else is looking, and to trip over a few things along the way.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge.
The human body is a testament to resilience, but even resilience has its limits.
I've always found that a good cup of coffee and a stubborn refusal to give up are essential ingredients for scientific success.
Contemporaries of Gerhard Domagk
Other Medicines born within 50 years of Gerhard Domagk (1895–1964).