131 Quotes by James D. Watson

I do think one success of Northern Europe, which the United States came from, was its willingness to accept innovation in business practices like Adam Smith and the whole Enlightenment. It essentially made the merchant class free instead of controlled by the king and aristocracy. That was essential.

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.

If scientists don’t play God, who will?

Worrying about complications before ruling out the possibility that the answer was simple would have been damned foolishness.

It’s necessary to be slightly underemployed if you are to do something significant.

On the other hand, the sun of Naples might be conducive to learning something about the biochemistry of the embryonic development of marine animals.

Nothing new that is really interesting comes without collaboration.

Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them.

One of the greatest gifts science has brought to the world is continuing elimination of the supernatural.