Science Quote by Sidney Altman

Gratitude, yes, but also a scientist’s careful hedge against the mythology of genius. Sidney Altman’s line lands with the modesty expected at prize podiums, yet its real work is reputational: it reframes scientific prestige as something slightly accidental, almost undeserved, and therefore ethically safer to accept. “Very fortunate” softens the hard edge of competition; it implies that discovery is not pure meritocracy but a product of timing, collaborators, funding, and the long chain of prior ideas. In a culture that loves lone-hero narratives, Altman quietly votes for the messy, collective reality.

The phrase “recognized here” matters too. He’s not claiming that the institution validates truth; he’s acknowledging the institution’s power to confer status. That’s a subtle, almost diplomatic separation between knowledge and acclaim: the work stands on evidence, but the applause is conditional, local, and political. “Extraordinary manner” nods to the ceremonial theater of awards without mocking it, the way an insider might: he knows the spectacle is partly for the public, partly for the scientific community’s own morale.

Then comes the deftest pivot: “work that we enjoy.” It’s a counter-narrative to the martyr-scientist trope. By calling it enjoyable, Altman normalizes curiosity as a legitimate motive, not a guilty pleasure. It also signals privilege: getting paid to chase questions is rare, and he knows it. The “we” is doing double duty, sharing credit with colleagues and reminding the room that science, at its best, is a team sport dressed up as individual achievement.