James D. Watson
American scientist, best known as one of the four discoverers of the structure of the DNA molecule.
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J. D. Watson (24 Sept. 1993). "Succeeding in Science: Some Rules of Thumb". Science 261: 1812-1813.
No one may have the guts to say this, but if we could make better human beings by knowing how to add genes, why shouldn't we?
The brain, is the most complex thing we have yet discovered in our universe.
If we don't play God, who will?
I just can’t sit while people are saying nonsense in a meeting without saying it’s nonsense. Scientific American 288(4), p. 54 (2003)
There is only one science, physics: everything else is social work.
To succeed in science, you have to avoid dumb people (here I was still following Luria's example). Now that might sound inexcusably flip, but the fact is that you must always turn to people who are brighter than yourself.
"Science Ph.D. students have effectively become serfs. And who would become a serf when you can work for Goldman Sachs and get paid $300,000 a year to become a serf? Why drive a Chevy when you can drive a BMW -- and now you're condemned to driving a car from Malaysia or something. Life should be fun."
One could not be a successful scientist without realizing that, in contrast to the popular conception supported by newspapers and mothers of scientists, a goodly number of scientists are not only narrow-minded and dull, but also just stupid.
To make a huge success, a scientist must be prepared to get into deep trouble. Sometime or another, someone will tell you that you are not ready to do something. ... If you are going to make a big jump in science, you will very likely be unqualified to succeed by definition. The truth, however, won't save you from criticism. Your very willingness to take on a very big goal will offend some people who will think that you are too big for your britches and crazy to boot.
Never be the brightest person in the room.
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