John Cornforth Quotes

Powerful John Cornforth for Daily Growth

About John Cornforth

John Cornforth (1917-2013) was an Australian chemist who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry, particularly in the area of carbohydrate chemistry. Born on September 5, 1917, in Perth, Western Australia, Cornforth grew up with a strong interest in science, influenced by his father, a school teacher and keen amateur scientist. Cornforth pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Western Australia, where he excelled academically. In 1938, he won a Rhodes Scholarship, allowing him to continue his studies at Oxford University in England. There, he earned his doctorate in chemistry under the guidance of Dorothy Hodgkin. After completing his Ph.D., Cornforth worked at the National Institute for Medical Research in London before moving to Harvard University as a postdoctoral fellow. In 1952, he returned to Australia and began working at the John Curtin School of Medical Research in Canberra. Cornforth is best known for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, which earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 (shared with Vladimir Prelog). His research involved developing methods to determine the three-dimensional structure of molecules and understanding how these structures affect chemical reactions. Throughout his career, Cornforth published over 400 scientific papers and held numerous positions at universities around the world, including a professorship at Stanford University and the chairmanship of the chemistry department at the Australian National University. He was knighted in 1976 for his services to science. John Cornforth's work has had profound implications for understanding and manipulating biological systems, contributing significantly to the advancement of organic chemistry and biochemistry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In science as in life, it's not what you know but what you can prove."

This quote by John Cornforth highlights the importance of empirical evidence and proof in the field of science. It suggests that in scientific pursuits, the validity of one's knowledge or understanding is not determined solely by personal belief or intuition, but rather by the ability to substantiate those claims with concrete evidence through experimentation, observation, and testing. Essentially, Cornforth underscores the idea that science progresses not just by having ideas, but by proving them to be true or false in a rigorous and replicable manner.

"I have no trouble with my critics, because they are either wrong or they haven't understood what I did."

This quote emphasizes that John Cornforth has a clear understanding of his work, to the point where he can distinguish between constructive criticism and misunderstandings. He is confident in his abilities and expects others to comprehend his work as he does. If they don't, he attributes it to either misinformation or lack of understanding, rather than taking it personally or questioning the validity of his work.

"The true purpose of a scientific experiment is to learn something that you didn't know before."

This quote emphasizes that the primary goal of conducting a scientific experiment is not merely to perform a task or confirm an existing theory, but rather to expand our understanding and knowledge by discovering new facts or insights that were previously unknown. The spirit of science lies in its ability to constantly challenge assumptions, ask questions, and seek answers through rigorous investigation. This quest for knowledge fuels the scientific process and is essential for advancing human understanding and improving our lives.

"To understand the present we must look to the past, but also keep an eye on the future."

This quote by John Cornforth implies that to fully comprehend our current circumstances, it's essential to learn from history (looking to the past). However, it encourages us not to be stuck in the past but to maintain a forward-looking perspective, keeping an eye on the future. Essentially, the wisdom and lessons from the past should guide us as we navigate towards the future.

"One of the most exciting things about science is the feeling of always being at the frontier of knowledge."

The quote by John Cornforth emphasizes the thrill and allure of scientific discovery, suggesting that one of its most captivating aspects is the continual push towards the boundaries of human understanding. This feeling of being at the forefront of knowledge represents the ever-evolving nature of science as we strive to uncover new truths, challenge existing beliefs, and expand our collective wisdom. It speaks to the sense of adventure, curiosity, and commitment that scientists possess in their pursuit of knowledge, making scientific endeavors both exciting and fulfilling.

After a year of post-graduate research, I won an 1851 Exhibition scholarship to work at Oxford with Robert Robinson. Two such scholarships were awarded each year, and the other was won by Rita Harradence, also of Sydney and also an organic chemist.

- John Cornforth

Year, Two, Other, Robert

Throughout my scientific career, my wife has been my most constant collaborator. Her experimental skill made major contributions to the work; she has eased for me beyond measure the difficulties of communication that accompany deafness; her encouragement and fortitude have been my strongest supports.

- John Cornforth

Career, Been, Constant, Accompany

The essential principles of the three-dimensional structure of organic molecules had been correctly formulated by the first Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Jacobus van't Hoff, as early as 1874.

- John Cornforth

Chemistry, Been, Molecules, Essential

I was born on 7 September 1917 at Sydney in Australia. My father was English-born and a graduate of Oxford; my mother, born Hilda Eipper, was descended from a German minister of religion who settled in New South Wales in 1832. I was the second of four children.

- John Cornforth

Father, German, South, Descended

The total loss of hearing was a process that lasted more than a decade, but it was sufficiently gradual for me to attend Sydney Boys' High School and to profit from the teaching there.

- John Cornforth

Process, Decade, Gradual, Profit

My old friend Vlado Prelog has asked me to offer, from both of us, our thanks to the Royal Academy of Sciences and to the Nobel Foundation for the honour conferred on us.

- John Cornforth

Old, Honour, Nobel, Conferred

At the National Institute for Medical Research, I came into contact with biological scientists and formed collaborative projects with several of them. In particular, George Popjak and I shared an interest in cholesterol.

- John Cornforth

Medical, Projects, Shared, Biological

By combining chemical, biochemical and physical techniques, it has thus become possible to investigate the nature of enzymic catalysis in a novel manner, complementary to the other approaches which have developed over the same period.

- John Cornforth

Other, Over, Which, Combining

I started doing experiments - mostly in organic chemistry, because it was so much more interesting - in my mother's laundry at home.

- John Cornforth

Doing, Chemistry, Mostly, Organic

In 1967, I had formed a collaboration with Hermann Eggerer, then of Muenchen, and together, we solved the problem of the 'asymmetric methyl group' and applied the solution in some of the many ways that have proved possible.

- John Cornforth

Some, Applied, Solved, Formed

In a world where it is so easy to neglect, deny, corrupt and suppress the truth, the scientist may find his discipline severe. For him, truth is so seldom the sudden light that shows new order and beauty; more often, truth is the uncharted rock that sinks his ship in the dark.

- John Cornforth

Beauty, Ship, Scientist, Order

In 1962, Popjak and I left the service of the Medical Research Council and became co-directors of the Milstead Laboratory of Chemical Enzymology set up by Shell Research Ltd.

- John Cornforth

Medical, Set, Became, Shell

Life does depend on accurate replication of molecules, and its complexity often requires that an enzyme shall accept one molecular species or type and transform it to equally specific products.

- John Cornforth

Depend, Complexity, Accurate, Requires

Part of my childhood was spent in Sydney and part in rural New South Wales, at Armidale.

- John Cornforth

New, New South Wales, Sydney

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