A biography for Joshua Lederberghasn’t been written yet.
“Although I am a public figure, I'm still a little shy. I don't think my own personality is important. I prefer to keep some small dosage of privacy.”
“If you want to solve very complex problems, you will have to end up letting machines work out a lot of the details for themselves, and in ways that we don't understand what they are doing.”
“When I was in high school, I became interested in cytochemistry: chemical analysis under the microscope, and trying to understand the composition of cells.”
“I believe I am a person with unusual talents. I think I'd be a liar or stupid if I were to deny that.”
“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.”
“I'm chairing a UNESCO committee on how to improve global Internet communications for science; help third-world people get onto the Net so they can be part of the process.”
“I got my Nobel Prize for my lab work.”
“If it takes you 20 or 25 years to establish yourself in one field, you really ought to be careful not to stray too far.”
“All of civility depends on being able to contain the rage of individuals.”
“I have many shortcomings. I feel very lucky to have been able to have what I've had.”
“Everybody has to learn for the first time.”
“I hope I've lived a life of science whose style will encourage younger people.”
“We are all very individual. You have to find out what you can do best, and be self-conscious about that.”
“To have the recognition of your colleagues is great. The public attention is a mixed blessing.”
“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.”
“If lifespan jumps by 30 or 40 years, that has enormous implications.”
“I started on the use of the Internet for scientific communication. Our research group was one of the very first to make really systematic use of it as a way of managing research projects.”
“As soon as you go into any biological process in any real detail, you discover it's open-ended in terms of what needs to be found out about it.”
“A Swedish newspaper reporter called and said, You've been awarded the Prize. I was quite sure it was a practical joke.”
“I certainly saw science as a kind of calling, and one with as much legitimacy as a religious calling.”