Quotes by Joshua Lederberg

About Joshua Lederberg:

Joshua Lederberg was an American molecular biologist known for his work in microbial genetics, artificial intelligence, and the United States space program. He was just 33 years old when he won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering that bacteria can mate and exchange genes. He shared the prize with Edward L. Tatum and George Beadle who won for their work with genetics.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Being successful at a very young age gave me the confidence and the capability to try out other things.

Joshua Lederberg

We are all very individual. You have to find out what you can do best, and be self-conscious about that.

Joshua Lederberg

If you wanted to dissect the structure of living cells, genetic analysis was an extremely powerful method, so my interest turned to that.

Joshua Lederberg

I wish I had a talent for dropping things as well as taking on new ones. It gets to be quite a clutter after a while.

Joshua Lederberg

I'm not easily inhibited by the fact that I don't know something about a subject. It doesn't stop me from dabbling in it.

Joshua Lederberg

If it takes you 20 or 25 years to establish yourself in one field, you really ought to be careful not to stray too far.

Joshua Lederberg

Although I am a public figure, I'm still a little shy. I don't think my own personality is important. I prefer to keep some small dosage of privacy.

Joshua Lederberg

I think we have to believe we are here for some purpose, and I know there are many cynics who will deny it, but they don't live as if they deny it.

Joshua Lederberg

I believe I am a person with unusual talents. I think I'd be a liar or stupid if I were to deny that.

Joshua Lederberg

I don't believe anybody can really grasp everything that's even in one textbook.

Joshua Lederberg

All of civility depends on being able to contain the rage of individuals.

Joshua Lederberg

I have many shortcomings. I feel very lucky to have been able to have what I've had.

Joshua Lederberg

As soon as you go into any biological process in any real detail, you discover it's open-ended in terms of what needs to be found out about it.

Joshua Lederberg

A Swedish newspaper reporter called and said, You've been awarded the Prize. I was quite sure it was a practical joke.

Joshua Lederberg

So many of the things I've predicted were technologies that were just sitting right in front of us.

Joshua Lederberg

If lifespan jumps by 30 or 40 years, that has enormous implications.

Joshua Lederberg

When I was in high school, I became interested in cytochemistry: chemical analysis under the microscope, and trying to understand the composition of cells.

Joshua Lederberg

I started on the use of the Internet for scientific communication. Our research group was one of the very first to make really systematic use of it as a way of managing research projects.

Joshua Lederberg

I hope I've lived a life of science whose style will encourage younger people.

Joshua Lederberg

I did get a very fine education, and not just in science. It took some pressure on the part of my elders to convince me that I really should take an interest in humanities.

Joshua Lederberg

Author Bio

  • NameJoshua Lederberg
  • DescriptionAmerican molecular biologist
  • BornMay 23, 1925
  • DiedFebruary 2, 2008
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionGeneticist; Molecular Biologist
  • AwardsNobel Prize In Physiology Or Medicine; Presidential Medal Of Freedom; William Procter Prize For Scientific Achievement