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.
Kidney transplants seem so routine now. But the first one was like Lindbergh's flight across the ocean.
Astronomy would not provide me with bread if men did not entertain hopes of reading the future in the heavens.
Tune your television to any channel it doesn't receive and about 1 percent of the dancing static you see is accounted for by this ancient remnant of the Big Bang. The next time you complain that there is nothing on, remember that you can always watch the birth of the universe.
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.
Astronauts will remain the explorers, the pioneers-the first to go back to moon and on to Mars. But I think it's really important to make space space available to as many people as we can. It's going to be a while before we can launch people for less than $20 million a ticket. But that day is coming.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
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