Science seldom proceeds in the straightforward logical manner imagined by outsiders. Instead, its steps forward (and sometimes backward) are often very human events in which personalities and cultural traditions play major roles.
JAMES WATSONNo one may have the guts to say this, but if we could make better human beings by knowing how to add genes, why shouldn’t we?
More James Watson Quotes
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The brain is the last and grandest biological frontier, the most complex thing we have yet discovered in our universe. It contains hundreds of billions of cells interlinked through trillions of connections. The brain boggles the mind.
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Ultimately, we’ll help the people we discriminate against if we try to understand more about them; genetics will lead to a world where there is a sympathy for the underdog.
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I think the reason people are dealing with science less well now than 50 years ago is that it has become so complicated.
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We’re not all equal, it’s simply not true. That isn’t science.
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If you succeed with your first dream, it helps. You know, people trust you, possibly, for the second one. They give you a chance to play out your second one.
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Science has always been my preoccupation and when you think a breakthrough is possible, it is terribly exciting.
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Our goal should be to understand our differences.
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Nothing new that is really interesting comes without collaboration.
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Do things as soon as you can. If a decision needs to be made, make it. It gives you more time to change your mind.
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I don’t think we are here for anything. We’re just products of evolution. You can say, “Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don’t think there’s a purpose.” But I’m anticipating a good lunch.
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People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty. I think it would be great.
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There is only one science, physics: everything else is social work.
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[As a young man ] I came to the conclusion that the church was just a bunch of fascists that supported Franco. I stopped going on Sunday mornings and watched the birds with my father instead.
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Knowing “why” (an idea) is more important than learning “what” (the fact).
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A clone of Einstein wouldn’t be stupid, but he wouldn’t necessarily be any genius, either.
JAMES WATSON