The great object is to find the theory of the matter [of X-rays] before anyone else, for nearly every professor in Europe is now on the warpath.

I must confess it was very unexpected and I am very startled at my metamorphosis into a chemist.

We haven't got the money, so we've got to think.

You know, I am sorry for the poor fellows that haven't got labs to work in.

If, as I have reason to believe, I have disintegrated the nucleus of the atom, this is of greater significance than the war.

Don't let me catch anyone talking about the Universe in my department.

When we have found how the nucleus of atoms is built up we shall have found the greatest secret of all — except life. We shall have found the basis of everything — of the earth we walk on, of the air we breathe, of the sunshine, of our physical body itself, of everything in the world, however great or however small — except life.