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
Nobody . . . 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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the challenges faced by women in male-dominated fields and emphasizes the courage to pursue one's passion despite societal skepticism.
Gertrude B. Elion's quote reflects her experience as a woman in a predominantly male field of chemistry. It underscores the lack of recognition and support she faced, as well as the broader societal barriers that discouraged women's participation in science. Despite this, her determination to follow her own path illustrates the importance of perseverance and self-belief in the face of adversity. Elion's journey serves as an inspiration for individuals striving to break through gender norms and pursue their passions, regardless of societal expectations.
Themes
ChemistryWomen In SciencePerseveranceGender BarriersInspiration
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about women in science, one might quote Elion to inspire young girls to follow their dreams.
More from Gertrude B. Elion
All quotes →The Nobel Prize is fine, but the drugs I've developed are rewards in themselves.
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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