Nobel Prize

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…

Zhores I. Alferov’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 2000 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me first of all, on behalf of my colleagues Professor Herbert Kroemer and Dr. Jack Kilby and myself to express our deepest gratitude to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for awarding us the most…

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been very lucky in my career. I was lucky first of all to find a profession that suited me. As an undergraduate at UBC in Canada, I fell in love with economic theory. It was the right choice for me. I went…

Richard J. Roberts’ speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1993 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of my colleague, Phillip Sharp and myself, I would like to express our deep gratitude for the unparalleled honor conferred upon us today. Science is rarely a solitary occupation and our discovery of split…

Norman F. Ramsey’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1989 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of Wolfgang Paul, Hans Dehmelt and myself, I wish to express our deepest thanks for the honors granted to us today. For me it is a double pleasure to share this award with two…

Jacques Monod’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1965 (in French) Sire, Altesses Royales, Monsieur le Président, Mesdames, Messieurs. L’intention profonde de votre illustre Fondateur n’était pas tant, semble-t-il, de distinguer certains hommes, que de consacrer aux yeux de tous les hommes les plus hautes valeurs de leur culture : la Paix,…