Irving Langmuir quotes

The scientist is motivated primarily by curiosity and a desire for truth. (Irving Langmuir)
History proves abundantly that pure science, undertaken without regard to applications to human needs, is usually ultimately of direct benefit to mankind. View quote
Irving Langmuir
Science, almost from its beginnings, has been truly international in character. National prejudices disappear completely in the scientist's search for truth. View quote
Irving Langmuir
To my mind, the most important aspect of the Nobel Awards is that they bring home to the masses of the peoples of all nations, a realization of their common interests. They carry to those who have no direct contact with science the international spirit. View quote
Irving Langmuir
Happy indeed is the scientist who not only has the pleasures which I have enumerated, but who also wins the recognition of fellow scientists and of the mankind which ultimately benefits from his endeavors. View quote
Irving Langmuir
To me, [it's] extremely interesting that men, perfectly honest, enthusiastic over their work, can so completely fool themselves. View quote
Irving Langmuir
Medicine also disregards national boundaries. View quote
Irving Langmuir
And literature frequently rises to heights that make it international. View quote
Irving Langmuir
In general, the rate of evaporation (m) of a substance in a high vacuum is related to the pressure (p) of the saturated vapor by the equation m=\sqrt{\frac{M}{2\pi RT}}p. Red phosphorus and some other substances probably form exceptions to this rule. View quote
Irving Langmuir
This coupling together of science with international peace, is, I think, particularly significant. View quote
Irving Langmuir
Science, almost from its beginnings, has been truly international in character. National prejudices disappear completely in the scientist's search for truth. Medicine also disregards national boundaries. And literature frequently rises to heights that make it international. The scientist is motivated primarily by curiosity and a desire for truth. His attitude is objective rather than subjective. In his work he finds great satisfaction in discovering new facts or new relationships between known facts, but even greater pleasure is derived from seeing his results incorporated into the body of scientific knowledge and from seeing them willingly used by others in the further development of science. (Irving Langmuir)