It doesn't matter whether you can or cannot achieve high temperature superconductivity or fuel cells, they will always be on the list because if you could achieve them they would be extremely valuable.

American science is much more organized, much more hierarchical than British science has been.

I don't suppose I'll ever retire completely.

One of my theme songs is that if you can't do it in a test tube, don't do it.

You see, I am a very conventional scientist, really.

I think you know that I classify science as British science, American science, and everybody else.

If it had been anything else, we would have said, 'People don't want us to do it. Forget it. Let's just leave it alone.' But this is not in that category. This is interesting science. New science. With a hint of a possibility of a very useful technology. Therefore, if you've got any integrity, you don't give up. You only give up if you find you are wrong. But as long as you believe that you are right, you have to continue. And you have to take the consequences.