The development of science is basically a social phenomenon, dependent on hard work and mutual support of many scientists and on the societies in which they live.

The late Richard Feynman, a superb physicist, said once as we talked about the laser that the way to tell a great idea is that, when people hear it, they say, 'Gee, I could have thought of that.'

Much public thinking follows a rut. The same thing is true in science. People get stuck and don't look in other directions.

In many cases, people who win a Nobel prize, their work slows down after that because of the distractions. Yes, fame is rewarding, but it's a pity if it keeps you from doing the work you are good at.

It's almost a sort of fairy story tale, just what a novelist would write about a discovery.

The imposing edifice of science provides a challenging view of what can be achieved by the accumulation of many small efforts in a steady objective and dedicated search for truth.

The development of science is basically a social phenomenon, dependent on hard work and mutual support of many scientists and on the societies in which they live.