12 of the Most Memorable Ahmed Zewail Quotes

The world just lost one of its finest scientists last night, Ahmed Zewail, Egypt’s source of pride and inspiration. “The father of femtochemistry” is the first Arab scientist to win a Nobel prize in a scientific field, he participated in more than 600 researches, wrote seven books and obtained around seven patents worldwide for his inventions. We decided to round up a list of his quotes that will forever live with us.

Curiosity – the rover and the concept – is what science is all about: the quest to reveal the unknown.

Higher education should be based on quality, not quantity; receive merit-based funding; and be free of unnecessary bureaucracy. Not the least of the benefits of educational reform is to foster the pride of achievement at national and international levels.

Everybody in the world is – is ready for liberty. It’s a question of how you do it.

Egypt has great potential because of the latent power of its human capital.

Reading was and still is my real joy.

Egypt was the first democracy in the Middle East. Women were unveiled in the 1920s. Egypt is a country of civilization, of culture. It shouldn’t be suffering.

There is no ‘master plan’ on the road to the Nobel Prize. It represents a lot of hard work, a passion for that work and… being in the right place at the right time. For me, that place was Caltech.

As someone from, and directly involved with, this part of the world, I am convinced Arabs are qualified to regain their glorious past.

Investing in science education and curiosity-driven research is investing in the future.

The soft power of science has the potential to reshape global diplomacy.
The youth movement is aware that old visions can not take Egypt into the future.
Although the Nasser revolution of 1952 was secular, the culture remained deeply religious – but it was a faith of moderation and tolerance. Women made up nearly half my class at university, and my senior academic adviser there was a woman. In Alexandria, my friends were Christians and Muslims.

WE SAID THIS: You will forever be missed, Zewail. Rest in peace.