In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons. John Polanyi More Quotes by John Polanyi More Quotes From John Polanyi Science never gives up searching for truth, since it never claims to have achieved it. John Polanyi searching never truth science The scientific and scholarly community is marked by the belief that the truth is to be found in all; none can claim it as their monopoly. John Polanyi truth-is community belief truth For science must breathe the oxygen of freedom. John Polanyi breathe oxygen freedom science Scientia is knowledge. It is only in the popular mind that it is equated with facts. John Polanyi only mind facts knowledge Scientists and scholars should constitute themselves as an international NGO of exceptional authority. John Polanyi scholars themselves authority should If we treasure our own experience and regard it as real, we must also treasure other people's experience. Reality is no less precious if it presents itself to someone else. All are discoverers, and if we disenfranchise any, all suffer. John Polanyi someone experience reality people The most exciting thing in the twentieth century is science. John Polanyi thing most exciting science 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 Polanyi me science people thinking The applause is a celebration not only of the actors but also of the audience. It constitutes a shared moment of delight. John Polanyi only moment applause audience When, as we must often do, we fear science, we really fear ourselves. John Polanyi really must fear science Human dignity is better served by embracing knowledge. John Polanyi human better dignity knowledge The eye searches for shapes. It searches for a beginning, a middle, and an end. John Polanyi end beginning shapes eye Though we explore in a culturally-conditioned way, the reality we sketch is universal. John Polanyi explore sketch reality way It is this, at its most basic, that makes science a humane pursuit; it acknowledges the commonality of people's experience. John Polanyi most experience science people Our assessment of socio-economic worth is largely a sham. We scientists should not lend ourselves to it - though we routinely do. We should, instead, insist on applying the criterion of quality. John Polanyi worth our assessment quality Though neglectful of their responsibility to protect science, scientists are increasingly aware of their responsibility to society. John Polanyi though society responsibility science Some dreamers demand that scientists only discover things that can be used for good. John Polanyi some things good science Science gives us a powerful vocabulary, and it is impossible to produce a vocabulary with which one can only say nice things. John Polanyi nice powerful impossible science Others think it the responsibility of scientists to coerce the rest of society, because they have the power that derives from special knowledge. John Polanyi rest responsibility power knowledge Individual scientists like myself - and many more conspicuous - pointed to the dangers of radioactive fallout over Canada if we were to launch nuclear weapons to intercept incoming bombers. John Polanyi more myself like canada
