[In the case of research director, Willis R. Whitney, whose style was to give talented investigators as much freedom as possible, you may define ‘serendipity’ as] the art of profiting from unexpected occurrences. When you...

The scientist is motivated primarily by curiosity and a desire for truth.

Medicine also disregards national boundaries.

Science, almost from its beginnings, has been truly international in character. National prejudices disappear completely in the scientist’s search for truth.

History proves abundantly that pure science, undertaken without regard to applications to human needs, is usually ultimately of direct benefit to mankind.

To my mind, the most important aspect of the Nobel Awards is that they bring home to the masses of the peoples of all nations, a realization of their common interests. They carry to those...

Happy indeed is the scientist who not only has the pleasures which I have enumerated, but who also wins the recognition of fellow scientists and of the mankind which ultimately benefits from his endeavors.

This coupling together of science with international peace, is, I think, particularly significant.

And literature frequently rises to heights that make it international.