Friedrich Wöhler

Chemistry is a science that progresses not only by the discovery of new facts, but also by the destruction of old errors.

The elements obey the same laws in the living body as outside it.

I was compelled to investigate cyanogen compounds more closely, and in doing so I stumbled upon the fact that by the combination of cyanic acid with ammonia, urea was formed.

The boundary that was believed to exist between organic and inorganic nature has fallen.

A single experiment is worth a thousand speeches.

Nature is not constrained by our classifications; she produces substances that bridge our artificial categories.

The pursuit of chemistry requires both the patience of an observer and the imagination of a poet.

Every chemical preparation is a conversation with nature, in which she finally reveals one of her secrets.

I have never made a discovery by accident; it was always preceded by long and careful thought.

The true chemist is not a mere manipulator of apparatus, but a thinker who interprets the language of substances.

In science, the most fruitful discoveries are often those that destroy a cherished illusion.

The synthesis of urea was a small fact, but it carried a great principle.

Do not trust in authorities, but test every theory with your own experiments.

The laboratory is the temple of the chemist, where the mysteries of matter are revealed.

It is a wonderful feeling to produce a substance that previously only life could create.

Chemical affinity is the love story of the elements.

The aim of chemistry is not only to discover new substances, but to understand the forces that govern their formation.

I have always found that the simplest explanation, consistent with the facts, is the most likely to be true.

The study of chemistry teaches humility, for nature always has new surprises in store.

A substance is known not by its name, but by its reactions.