Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In my day I was told women didn't go into chemistry. I saw no reason why we couldn't.
Gertrude B. ElionRead
The Nobel Prize is fine, but the drugs I've developed are rewards in themselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The true value of one's work lies in the impact it has, rather than in external accolades.
Gertrude B. Elion emphasizes that while prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize are significant, the real fulfillment comes from the contributions and advancements she has made in the field of medicine. This highlights a perspective that prioritizes personal achievement and the tangible benefits of one's work over public recognition.
Themes
Nobel PrizeSuccessRewardsContributionMedicine
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a medical conference, one might use this quote to inspire budding researchers to focus on their work's impact.
More from Gertrude B. Elion
All quotes βNobody . . . took me seriously. They wondered why in the world I wanted to be a chemist when no women were doing that. The world was not waiting for me.
Gertrude B. ElionRead
I had fallen in love with a young man... and we were planning to get married. And then he died of subacute bacterial endocarditis... Two years later with the advent of penicillin, he would have been saved. It reinforced in my mind the importance of scientific discovery...
Gertrude B. ElionRead
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