These microscopic organisms form an entire world composed of species, families and varieties whose history, which has barely begun to be written, is already fertile in prospects and findings of the highest importance. The names of these organisms are very numerous and will have to be defined and in part discarded. The word microbe which has the advantage of being shorter and carrying a more general meaning, and of having been approved by my illustrious friend, M. Littré, the most competent linguist in France, is one we will adopt.

I give them experiments and they respond with speeches.

It is surmounting difficulties that makes heroes.

The Greeks understood the mysterious power of the below things. They are the ones who gave us one of the most beautiful words in our language, the word enthusiasm.

It would seem to me that I was committing a theft if I were to let one day go by without doing some work.

The nights seem to me too long... I am often scolded by Madame Pasteur, but I tell her I shall lead her to fame.

Oh my goodness the mystery that has prompted my objective. My quality lies exclusively in my tirelessness.