--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's like The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat…" description: "\"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 blee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/carly-simon-9969_accidents_it-s-like-the-mold-in-dr-florey-s-coat-a_639135.jpg" --- # It's like The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat, about the… ![“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 bleeds into red and all of a sudden you have something unexpected.” quote by Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/carly-simon-9969_accidents_it-s-like-the-mold-in-dr-florey-s-coat-a_639135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/carly-simon-9969_accidents_it-s-like-the-mold-in-dr-florey-s-coat-a_639135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d63/carly-simon-9969_accidents_it-s-like-the-mold-in-dr-florey-s-coat-a_639135.jpg) > “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 bleeds into red and all of a sudden you have something unexpected.” [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected accidents can lead to breakthrough discoveries, showing that serendipity fuels innovation. **In simple terms:** Accidents can spark great inventions. Key Takeaway Embrace chance and stay observant. Themes serendipity innovation discovery Mood curious optimistic inspirational Type aphor observational motivational When to use this quote - research labs - creative brainstorming - product development - problem solving - learning from mistakes Key Concepts biology chemistry creative process Questions to Reflect On - How can you create environments that welcome unexpected ideas? - What habits help you notice hidden opportunities? A Different Perspective Not all accidents are beneficial; insight requires insight to recognize value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Something unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-unexpected/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just a regular guy that bleeds red. I just happen to be blessed with a talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chung/i-m-just-a-regular-guy-that-bleeds-red-i-just-happen-to-be-blessed/) [Patrick Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chung/) > [ I doubt that Fleming could have obtained a grant for the discovery of penicillin on that basis \[a requirement for highly detailed research plans\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/i-doubt-that-fleming-could-have-obtained-a-grant-for-the-discovery-of/) [Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/) > [(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/) > [The man is United - cut him and he bleeds red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brazil/the-man-is-united-cut-him-and-he-bleeds-red/) [Alan Brazil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brazil/) > [You have a touch in letter writing that is beyond me. Something unexpected, like coming round a corner in a rose garden and finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/you-have-a-touch-in-letter-writing-that-is-beyond-me-something/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Whether I'm traveling or at home in Seattle, my days rarely play out as it looks on my Outlook calendar - there's almost always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-park/whether-i-m-traveling-or-at-home-in-seattle-my-days-rarely-play-out/) [Jane Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-park/) > [The experiment left no doubt that, as far as accuracy of measurement went, the resistance disappeared. At the same time, however, something unexpected occurred.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heike-kamerlingh-onnes/the-experiment-left-no-doubt-that-as-far-as-accuracy-of-measurement/) Heike Kamerlingh Onnes > [ When a drug comes out \[that's broadly prescribed\] there are going to start to be a lot of people on it \[in a million… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/when-a-drug-comes-out-that-s-broadly-prescribed-there-are-going-to/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The essence of poetry is invention; such invention as, by producing something unexpected, surprises and delights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-essence-of-poetry-is-invention-such-invention-as-by-producing/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [My style is to take something unexpected and make it into a hit. That's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbaland/my-style-is-to-take-something-unexpected-and-make-it-into-a-hit-that/) [Timbaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timbaland/) > [Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-something-unexpected-happens-at-least-i-don-t-expect-it-because/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [All actors bring something unexpected to the role because they have to translate what's on the page and make a real character out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-johnston/all-actors-bring-something-unexpected-to-the-role-because-they-have/) [Joe Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-johnston/) > [Consumers around the world always want something unexpected and exciting, and that's what drives me. I love the challenge of reinterpreting my designs in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/consumers-around-the-world-always-want-something-unexpected-and/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Personal style is about taking a risk, trying something unexpected, and having fun with fashion, but always being true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/personal-style-is-about-taking-a-risk-trying-something-unexpected-and/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [If a man gives you a harsh winter, give him back something unexpected: The warm spring!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-a-man-gives-you-a-harsh-winter-give-him-back-something-unexpected/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Carly Simon > [Sometimes, but the year I lived in France I started to write songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/sometimes-but-the-year-i-lived-in-france-i-started-to-write-songs/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [I remember being onstage once when I didn't have fear: I got so scared I didn't have fear that it brought on an anxiety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/i-remember-being-onstage-once-when-i-didn-t-have-fear-i-got-so-scared/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [I'm still more comfortable with standards than with my own songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/i-m-still-more-comfortable-with-standards-than-with-my-own-songs/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [The advancements that women have made are very threatening to men in the job place. There haven't been that many women in politics. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/the-advancements-that-women-have-made-are-very-threatening-to-men-in/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [As a singer I tried on all these hats, these voices, these clothes, and eventually out came me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/as-a-singer-i-tried-on-all-these-hats-these-voices-these-clothes-and/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [We change our opinions of ourselves so often. What the outside world thinks is only a small part of our image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/we-change-our-opinions-of-ourselves-so-often-what-the-outside-world/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [You usually can't tell what's inspiring until you look back on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/you-usually-can-t-tell-what-s-inspiring-until-you-look-back-on-it/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/i-had-some-dreams-they-were-clouds-in-my-coffee/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [I had this terrible stammer, so I couldn't really speak properly until I was 16 or 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/i-had-this-terrible-stammer-so-i-couldn-t-really-speak-properly-until/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [You know, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 I realized I had spent too long arranging my attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/you-know-when-i-was-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer-in-1997-i-realized-i/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [Do you know how many concerts I've done in my whole life, in more than 35 years of performing? Sixty-four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/do-you-know-how-many-concerts-i-ve-done-in-my-whole-life-in-more-than/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [Sometimes my boyfriend would write the lyrics and I would write the melody, and other times I would start from scratch. Or sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/sometimes-my-boyfriend-would-write-the-lyrics-and-i-would-write-the/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [Life is a dream even in its most painful moments, it's a dream that we can dance to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/life-is-a-dream-even-in-its-most-painful-moments-it-s-a-dream-that-we/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [But when we listened to the radio, it was Bill Haley and the Comets or the Everly Brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/but-when-we-listened-to-the-radio-it-was-bill-haley-and-the-comets-or/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [You know, people want to honor me, and on the one hand I just don't want to be a poster child; but on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/you-know-people-want-to-honor-me-and-on-the-one-hand-i-just-don-t/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) [Explore all 69 Carly Simon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's like The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat, about the discovery of penicillin. 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