--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my first publication I might have…" description: "\"In my first publication I might have claimed that I had come to the conclusion, as a result of serious study of the literature and deep thought, that v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/alexander-fleming-29825_books_in-my-first-publication-i-might-have-cla_1019173.png" --- # In my first publication I might have claimed that I had… ![“In my first publication I might have claimed that I had come to the conclusion, as a result of serious study of the literature and deep thought, that valuable antibacterial substances were made by moulds and that I set out to investigate the problem. That would have been untrue and I preferred to…” quote by Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/alexander-fleming-29825_books_in-my-first-publication-i-might-have-cla_1019173.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/alexander-fleming-29825_books_in-my-first-publication-i-might-have-cla_1019173.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/alexander-fleming-29825_books_in-my-first-publication-i-might-have-cla_1019173.png) > “In my first publication I might have claimed that I had come to the conclusion, as a result of serious study of the literature and deep thought, that valuable antibacterial substances were made by moulds and that I set out to investigate the problem. That would have been untrue and I preferred to tell the truth that penicillin started as a chance observation. My only merit is that I did not neglect the observation and that I pursued the subject as a bacteriologist. My publication in 1929 was the starting-point of the work of others who developed penicillin especially in the chemical field.” [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fleming acknowledges his discovery was accidental, emphasizing observation over hypothesis and his role in prompting further research. **In simple terms:** He discovered penicillin by chance and shared it truthfully. Key Takeaway Value careful observation and share findings openly. Themes science discovery humility collaboration Mood reflective inspirational Type historical scientific When to use this quote - lab research - clinical trials - pharmaceutical development - public health policy Key Concepts microbiology antibiotics serendipity Questions to Reflect On - How can we better recognize accidental insights? - What systems encourage reporting unexpected results? A Different Perspective Chance discoveries may be overlooked without diligent follow‑up. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antibacterial Substances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antibacterial-substances-2261840/) [Bacteriologist Publication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteriologist-publication-2261838/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Chemicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemicals/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Deep thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-thought/) [Developed Penicillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developed-penicillin-2261837/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mould/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Penicillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penicillin/) [Penicillin Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penicillin-started-2261836/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Publication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publication/) [Pursued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursued/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Starting point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-point/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Truth Penicillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-penicillin-2261839/) [Untrue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/untrue/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) ## Related quotes > [Penicillin sat on a shelf for ten years while I was called a quack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/penicillin-sat-on-a-shelf-for-ten-years-while-i-was-called-a-quack/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [It has been demonstrated that a species of penicillium produces in culture a very powerful antibacterial substance which affects different bacteria in different degrees.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/it-has-been-demonstrated-that-a-species-of-penicillium-produces-in/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/penicillin-cures-but-wine-makes-people-happy/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [It is not difficult to make microbes resistant to penicillin in the laboratory by exposing them to concentrations not sufficient to kill them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/it-is-not-difficult-to-make-microbes-resistant-to-penicillin-in-the/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [If penicillin can cure those that are ill, Spanish sherry can bring the dead back to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/if-penicillin-can-cure-those-that-are-ill-spanish-sherry-can-bring/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [One sometimes finds what one is not looking for. When I woke up just after dawn on Sept. 28, 1928, I certainly didn’t plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/one-sometimes-finds-what-one-is-not-looking-for-when-i-woke-up-just/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [It was astonishing that for some considerable distance around the mould growth the staphococcal colonies were undergoing lysis. What had formerly been a well-grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/it-was-astonishing-that-for-some-considerable-distance-around-the/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [I have been trying to point out that in our lives chance may have an astonishing influence and, if I may offer advice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/i-have-been-trying-to-point-out-that-in-our-lives-chance-may-have-an/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [(The discovery of penicillin) was a triumph of accident, a fortunate occurrence which happened while I was working on a purely academic bacteriological problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/the-discovery-of-penicillin-was-a-triumph-of-accident-a-fortunate/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [Nature makes penicillin; I just found it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/nature-makes-penicillin-i-just-found-it/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [It's like The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat, about the discovery of penicillin. Out of these strange accidents come huge discoveries. A certain purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/it-s-like-the-mold-in-dr-florey-s-coat-about-the-discovery-of/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [Stay in college, get the knowledge. And stay there until you're through. If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/stay-in-college-get-the-knowledge-and-stay-there-until-you-re-through/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I grew up thinking that it was immoral to idealize the past because, in the past, there was slavery and no penicillin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/i-grew-up-thinking-that-it-was-immoral-to-idealize-the-past-because/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [If penicillin had been judged by its toxicity to guinea pigs, it might never have been used by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/if-penicillin-had-been-judged-by-its-toxicity-to-guinea-pigs-it-might/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The only reason we don't notice how absolutely interwoven our thinking processes have become with older technologies - pencils, paper, electric light, penicillin, fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/the-only-reason-we-don-t-notice-how-absolutely-interwoven-our/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) ## More by Alexander Fleming > [The unprepared mind cannot see the outstretched hand of opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/the-unprepared-mind-cannot-see-the-outstretched-hand-of-opportunity/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [(The discovery of penicillin) was a triumph of accident, a fortunate occurrence which happened while I was working on a purely academic bacteriological problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/the-discovery-of-penicillin-was-a-triumph-of-accident-a-fortunate/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [I have been trying to point out that in our lives chance may have an astonishing influence and, if I may offer advice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/i-have-been-trying-to-point-out-that-in-our-lives-chance-may-have-an/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [I have been trying to point out that in our lives chance may have an astonishing influence and, if I may offer advice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/i-have-been-trying-to-point-out-that-in-our-lives-chance-may-have-an-2/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [One sometimes finds what one is not looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/one-sometimes-finds-what-one-is-not-looking-for/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [If penicillin can cure those that are ill, Spanish sherry can bring the dead back to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/if-penicillin-can-cure-those-that-are-ill-spanish-sherry-can-bring/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [I play with microbes. There are, of course, many rules to this play...but when you have acquired knowledge and experience it is very pleasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/i-play-with-microbes-there-are-of-course-many-rules-to-this-play-but/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [It is the lone worker who makes the first advance in a subject; the details may be worked out by a team, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/it-is-the-lone-worker-who-makes-the-first-advance-in-a-subject-the/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [For the birth of something new, there has to be a happening. Newton saw an apple fall; James Watt watched a kettle boil; Roentgen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/for-the-birth-of-something-new-there-has-to-be-a-happening-newton-saw/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [Suggested remedy for the common cold: A good gulp of whiskey at bedtime-it's not very scientific, but it helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/suggested-remedy-for-the-common-cold-a-good-gulp-of-whiskey-at/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [It has been demonstrated that a species of penicillium produces in culture a very powerful antibacterial substance which affects different bacteria in different degrees.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/it-has-been-demonstrated-that-a-species-of-penicillium-produces-in/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [Nature makes penicillin; I just found it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/nature-makes-penicillin-i-just-found-it/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/penicillin-cures-but-wine-makes-people-happy/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [It is not difficult to make microbes resistant to penicillin in the laboratory by exposing them to concentrations not sufficient to kill them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/it-is-not-difficult-to-make-microbes-resistant-to-penicillin-in-the/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [One sometimes finds what one is not looking for. When I woke up just after dawn on Sept. 28, 1928, I certainly didn’t plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/one-sometimes-finds-what-one-is-not-looking-for-when-i-woke-up-just/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) [Explore all 18 Alexander Fleming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my first publication I might have claimed that I had come to the conclusion, as a result of serious study of the literature and deep thought, that valuable antibacterial substances were made by moulds and that I set out to investigate the problem. 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