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James D. Watson Quotes

Molecular Biologist

James D. Watson is a renowned molecular biologist, best known for his discovery of the double helix structure of DNA with Francis Crick. His research has had a profound impact on molecular biology and genetics.

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All Ifs Science People Thinking Biology Scientist Atheism Discovery Dna Evolution Has Beens Humans Play World Would Be Brain Facts Father Genetics Genome

Famous James D. Watson Quotes

“Ultimately, we'll help the people we discriminate against if we try to understand more about them; genetics will lead to a world where there is a sympathy for the underdog.”

People Ifs World Trying Helping Genetics Underdog

Author:James D. Watson

“Moving forward will not be for the faint of heart. But if the next century witnesses failure, let it be because our science is not yet up to the job, not because we don't have the courage to make less random the sometimes most unfair courses of human evolution.”

Ifs Humans Heart Sometimes Jobs Moving Courses Next Century Evolution Moving Forward Witness Unfair Human Evolution Faint Of Heart

Book:A Passion for DNA: Genes, Genomes, and Society

Source: A Passion for DNA: Genes, Genomes, and Society

“If scientists don't play God, who will?”

Ifs Play Scientist

Author:James D. Watson

“If I had been married earlier in life, I wouldn't have seen the double helix. I would have been taking care of the kids on Saturday. On the other hand, I was lonely a lot of the time.”

Ifs Has Beens Hands Care Kids Married Lonely Saturday

Author:James D. Watson

“Do things as soon as you can. If a decision needs to be made, make it. It gives you more time to change your mind.”

Ifs Needs Giving Mind Made Decision More Time Changing Your Mind

Author:James D. Watson

“No good model ever accounted for all the facts, since some data was bound to be misleading if not plain wrong.”

Ifs Facts Models Bounds Data Mislead

Author:James D. Watson

“If we don't play God, who will?”

Ifs Play

Author:James D. Watson

“It's necessary to be slightly underemployed if you are to do something significant.”

Ifs Significant Life And Love Underemployed

Author:James D. Watson

“If you succeed with your first dream, it helps. You know, people trust you, possibly, for the second one. They give you a chance to play out your second one.”

People Ifs Knows Giving Firsts Play Helping Dream Chance Succeed

Author:James D. Watson

“I wanted to see if I could write a good book.”

Ifs Writing Book Wanted If I Could Good Book

Author:James D. Watson

“No one may have the guts to say this, but if we could make better human beings by knowing how to add genes, why shouldn't we?”

Ifs Humans May Human Beings Knowing Add Guts Genes

Author:James D. Watson

“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty. I think it would be great.”

People Ifs Thinking Made Would Be Girl Terrible

Author:James D. Watson

“I don't think we are here for anything. We're just products of evolution. You can say, "Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don't think there's a purpose." But I'm anticipating a good lunch.”

Ifs Thinking Purpose Products Evolution Mindfulness Lunch Bleak

Author:James D. Watson

About the Author

Born: April 6, 1928
Known for: Molecular Biologist
Quotes: 73

Books & Sources

DNA: The Secret of LifeRelated source material

The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNARelated source material

Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in ScienceRelated source material

A Passion for DNA: Genes, Genomes, and SocietyRelated source material

Molecular Biology of the GeneRelated source material

The Annotated and Illustrated Double HelixRelated source material

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