I went to the trash pile at Tuskegee Institute and started my laboratory with bottles, old fruit jars and any other thing I found I could use. ... [The early efforts were] worked out almost wholly on top of my flat topped writing desk and with teacups, glasses, bottles and reagents I made myself.

No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.

My purpose alone must be God's purpose.

Our creator is the same and never changes despite the names given Him by people here and in all parts of the world. Even if we gave Him no name at all, He would still be there, within us, waiting to give us good on this earth.

The centre of his world was the south where he was born in slavery some 79 years ago and where he did his work as a creative scientist.

My work is that of keeping every operation down (in size) so that the farmer and the man farthest down can get hold of it.

We get closer to God as we get more intimately and understandingly acquainted with the things He has created. I know of nothing more inspiring than that of making discoveries for one's self.