Nobel Prize

André Lwoff’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1965 (in French) Sire, Altesses Royales, Mesdames, Messieurs. C’est la recherche qui m’a conduit ici et la recherche, on le sait, est un jeu. Montaigne déjà faisait mention de ” cette passion studieuse qui nous amuse à la poursuite des choses et de l’acquêt…

François Jacob’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1965 (in French) Sire, Altesses Royales, Mesdames, Messieurs. Je vous exprime ma profonde gratitude pour la distinction dont vous m’honorez aujourd’hui. Chacun de nous, à vingt ans, a rêvé de transformer le monde. Chacun de nous, à quarante ans, sait qu’il ne le fera…

Alan L. Hodgkin’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1963 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. As I sat in this splendid hall I have been feeling that it is very hard to find words in which to thank you for the great honour which you have done…

Sir John Eccles’ Address to the University Students on the Evening of December 10, 1963 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow students, Mr. Drakenberg. I have the great honour to reply on behalf of the Laureates on this magnificent occasion. We have greatly enjoyed your festive display and the fine…

Peter Medawar’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1960 Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: There are really no words adequate to this magnificent and moving occasion – or no words that come easily to someone who has been suddenly transported from an ivory tower to a golden…

Manfred Eigen’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1967 (in German) Eure Majestät, Eure Königliche Hoheiten, meine Damen und Herren: In der Laudatio, die uns soeben bei der Verleihung des Chemie-Nobelpreises verlesen wurde, heißt es von „sehr schnellen Reaktionen”, „Störungen von (chemischen) Gleichgewichten”, „Blitzlichtphotolyse” und „(chemischer) Relaxation”. Nun, es war schon eine…

Ronald G.W. Norrish’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1967 Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: As one who was brought up in the old tradition of chemical teaching when such names as Scheele, Priestly, Lavoisier, Berzelius and Liebig stood out as beacon lights along the road of…

George Porter’s speech at the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm, December 10, 1967 Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentemen: It is a joyous occasion for a scientist when the subject which interests him most is recognised by the highest honour that the world can bestow. When the honour is given to that…

Susumu Tonegawa’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1987 Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have great difficulties in finding proper words to express my heartfelt gratitude to those in the Committee and Assembly who considered my work worthy of this ultimate recognition. It is, indeed, a high honor that you…

Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet’s Address to the University Students on the Evening of December 10, 1960 Students! On behalf of my fellow laureates may I thank you most warmly for your tribute and good wishes. For all of us this is probably the greatest day of our lives – and for myself it has a…