"Half-jokingly, I asked what was wrong with me. So we made a deal: I would run his biological research provided I had a free hand to run my new project"

In this quote, James W. Black is reflecting on a conversation he had with a colleague. He asked his coworker half-jokingly what was wrong with him, and his colleague responded by proposing a deal. The deal was that Black would run his coworker's biological research, and in exchange, he would be offered a free hand to run his own task. This quote shows Black's desire to compromise and his desire to pursue his own task. It also reveals his associate's rely on Black's abilities, as he wanted to give him the liberty to pursue his own project. This quote highlights the value of partnership and compromise in order to achieve success. It also demonstrates the value of having a helpful network of associates who are willing to assist each other out.