Joshua Lederberg

threat man dominance planet virus

"The single biggest threat to man's continued dominance on the planet is the virus."

— Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)

curiosity investigate approach

"I get curious about new things. My real strength is going into a field that has not been investigated before, and finding new approaches to it."

—Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)

good passionate converge life

"Try hard to find out what you're good at and what your passions are, and where the two converge, and build your life around that."

—Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)

moral science peace

"The central moral issue of science is that we do not have a science of peace and hardly know where to begin in building one."

—Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)

talent stupid liar

"I believe I am a person with unusual talents. I think I'd be a liar or stupid if I were to deny that."

—Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)

textbook grasp understand

"I don't believe anybody can really grasp everything that's even in one textbook."

—Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)

nuclear weapon nuke harm lunatic civil society risk

"If we have isolated individuals able to inflict enormous harm, imagine what a single lunatic can do with a nuclear weapon. I think the whole base of civil society is at risk."

—Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)

purpose living denial

"I think we have to believe we are here for some purpose, and I know there are many cynics who will deny it, but they don't live as if they deny it."

—Joshua Lederberg (1925-2008)