Alfred Nobel

Solitude is the inventor's best companion.

Peace prizes over war machines—that's my redemption.

From chaos comes creation in the lab.

A recluse without books and ink is an idler without a soul.

If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am content.

My dynamite will sooner lead to peace than a thousand world conventions. As soon as men will find that in one instant whole armies can be utterly destroyed, they will surely keep their beautiful peace.

It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be a Scandinavian or not.

I intend to leave after my death a large fund for the promotion of the peace idea, but I am skeptical as to its results.

The second of these prizes shall be awarded to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or invention within the field of physics.

The third to the person who shall have made the most important discovery or improvement in chemistry.

The fourth to the person who shall have made the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine.

The fifth to the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.

The sixth to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.

For my part, I wish all guns with their belongings and everything that can be used as a weapon to be sent to hell, where they belong.

To be a good inventor, you must be a good observer.

The man who has not learned to be a good listener can never be a good inventor.

The more I see of men, the more I admire dogs.

What a miserable creature is man, who can neither live in peace nor die in peace.

Nature is an excellent teacher, but she never gives a diploma.

The power of imagination makes us infinite.