[Intellectual courage is] the quality that allows one to believe in one's judgement in the face of disappointment and widespread skepticism. Intellectual courage is even rarer than physical courage. John Charles Polanyi More Quotes by John Charles Polanyi More Quotes From John Charles Polanyi I knew, however, that it would cost ten times what I had available in order to build a molecular beam machine. I decided to follow a byway, rather than the highway. It is a procedure I have subsequently recommended to beginning scientists in this country, where research strategy is best modelled on that used by Wolfe at the Plains of Abraham. John Charles Polanyi ordersciencecountry Young people ask me if this country is serious about science. They aren't thinking about the passport that they will hold, but the country that they must rely on for support and encouragement. John Charles Polanyi encouragementcountrythinking Reality is no less precious if it presents itself to someone else. All are discoverers, and if we disenfranchise any, all suffer. John Charles Polanyi ifssufferingreality Though we explore in a culturally-conditioned way, the reality we sketch is universal. John Charles Polanyi universalrealityway In nation after nation, democracy has taken the place of autocracy. John Charles Polanyi democracies-havedemocracytaken It is folly to use as one's guide in the selection of fundamental science the criterion of utility. Not because (scientists)... despise utility. But because. .. useful outcomes are best identified after the making of discoveries, rather than before. John Charles Polanyi usediscoveryscience The respect for human rights, essential if we are to use technology wisely, is not something alien that must be grafted onto science. On the contrary, it is integral to science, as also to scholarship in general. John Charles Polanyi essentialstechnologyrights In education the appetite does indeed grow with eating. I have never known anyone to abandon study because they knew too much. John Charles Polanyi too-muchdoeinspirational Nothing is more irredeemably irrelevant than bad science. John Charles Polanyi irrelevant Authority in science exists to be questioned, since heresy is the spring from which new ideas flow. John Charles Polanyi flowspringideas Scientia is knowledge. It is only in the popular mind that it is equated with facts. John Charles Polanyi mindfacts Science gives us a powerful vocabulary, and it is impossible to produce a vocabulary with which one can only say nice things. John Charles Polanyi vocabularynicepowerful Though neglectful of their responsibility to protect science, scientists are increasingly aware of their responsibility to society. John Charles Polanyi scientistprotectresponsibility Scientists and scholars should constitute themselves as an international NGO of exceptional authority. John Charles Polanyi scientistauthorityshould Idealism is the highest form of reason. John Charles Polanyi idealismformreason Human dignity is better served by embracing knowledge. John Charles Polanyi human-dignitypersonal-dignitydignity
