Nobel Prize

Pierre-Gilles de Gennes’ speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1991 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, This is the first, and probably the last, time in my life where I have dinner with queens and princesses. I am worried. I suspect that with the chimes of midnight I will be turned into…

Aaron Klug’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1982 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to express my profound gratitude for the distinction with which you have honoured me today. Ever since I heard the news of the Royal Swedish Academy’s decision, and even since arriving in Stockholm,…

Seamus Heaney’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1995 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, Today’s ceremonies and tonight’s banquet have been mighty and memorable events. Nobody who has shared in them will ever forget them, but for the laureates these celebrations have had a unique importance. Each of us has participated…

Russian Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1974 (in Russian)

English Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1974 (Translation) Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, Many Nobel Prize laureates have appeared before you in this hall, but the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Foundation have probably never had as much bother with anyone as…

John C. Polanyi’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1986 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, Late in his career as an actor Richard Burton was asked by an interviewer what it was in his work on the stage that had given him the keenest pleasure. Burton thought for a while, and…

As the Laureate was unable to be present at the Nobel Banquet at Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, December 10, 1928, a letter from the Laureate was read by the French Minister, Mr. Armand Bernard (Translation) I wish I had been able to express my feelings in person. Permit me to do so through the French Minister,…

Richard L.M. Synge’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1952 (in Swedish) Eders Majestät, Eders kungliga högheter, mina damer och herrar. Jag vill ge uttryck åt den stora glädje jag känner över Kungl. Vetenskapsakademins beslut att utmärka vårt arbete med Nobelpriset i kemi. Jag vill också tacka för Riksmarskalkens vackra tal i…

Cecil Powell’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1950 Ladies and Gentlemen, Those placed in the position which I now occupy, commonly feel concern about their worthiness to receive the great honour which has been done them. How much more must this be so in my own case for I am conscious…

Jens C. Skou’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1997 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of Professor Boyer, Dr. Walker and myself, I would like to express how grateful we are for the great honour the Nobel Foundation and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has bestowed upon us…