Respect Quote by Bill Bryson
““get a peek at them was seldom matched by more engaging qualities, like respect. “I’m afraid we always used to adopt—let’s say a patronizing attitude toward her,” Crick later recalled. Two of these men were from a competing institution and the third was more or less openly siding with them. It should hardly come as a surprise that she kept her results locked away. That Wilkins and Franklin did not get along was a fact that Watson and Crick seem to have exploited to their benefit. Although Crick and Watson were””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson, 2003
Crick describes a patronizing attitude toward a female scientist, noting competition and sabotage among male colleagues, leading her to hide her results.
In simple terms: Male dominance and rivalry suppressed her work.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge patronizing attitudes.
Themes
gender bias
scientific collaboration
recognition
competition
ethics
Mood
frustrated
critical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- academic conferences
- grant applications
- peer review
- collaborative projects
Key Concepts
patronization
gatekeeping
gender dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions foster inclusive collaboration?
- What policies reduce competitive sabotage?
A Different Perspective
Patronizing attitudes can be subtle and systemic, not just overt.
![“I think that the formation of [DNA's] structure by Watson and Crick may turn out to be the greatest developments in the field of molecular genetics in recent years.” quote by Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/44e/linus-pauling-8508_biology_i-think-that-the-formation-of-dna-s-stru_2909722.jpg)
