The secret of all those who make discoveries is that they regard nothing as impossible.
Justus Von LiebigRead
I would... establish the conviction that Chemistry, as an independent science, offers one of the most powerful means towards the attainment of a higher mental cultivation; that the study of Chemistry is profitable, not only inasmuch as it promotes the material interests of mankind, but also because it furnishes us with insight into those wonders of creation which immediately surround us, and with which our existence, life, and development, are most closely connected.
Interpretation
Chemistry enhances both our material well-being and our understanding of the natural world.
Justus Von Liebig emphasizes the dual benefits of studying chemistry: it not only serves practical, material needs but also enriches our intellectual and spiritual appreciation of the natural phenomena around us. He asserts that an understanding of chemistry is vital for personal development and our connection to the wonders of creation, ultimately leading to a more profound mental cultivation.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of STEM education, a teacher might quote Liebig to showcase how chemistry fosters intellectual growth.
The secret of all those who make discoveries is that they regard nothing as impossible.
Perhaps most ridiculous of all is the suggestion that we 'keep' our radioactive garbage for the use of our descendants. This 'solution', I think, requires an immediate poll of the next 20,000 generations.
It seems that if one is working from the point of view of getting beauty in one's equations, and if one has really a sound insight, one is on a sure line of progress.
Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.
I have devoted my whole life to the study of Nature, and yet a single sentence may express all that I have done. I have shown that there is a correspondence between the succession of Fishes in geological times and the different stages of their growth in the egg,-this is all. It chanced to be a result that was found to apply to other groups and has led to other conclusions of a like nature.
The creative scientist studies nature with the rapt gaze of the lover, and is guided as often by aesthetics as by rational considerations in guessing how nature works.
Q: What were you thinking when your colleagues were out there making cosmic history? A: I just kept reminding myself that every single component in this spacecraft was provided by the guy who submitted the cheapest tender.
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