--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I greatly enjoy reading the biographies…" description: "\"I greatly enjoy reading the biographies of scientists, and when doing so I always hope to learn the secrets of their success. Alas, those secrets gener..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jack-w-szostak-40620_alas_i-greatly-enjoy-reading-the-biographies_543398.jpg" --- # I greatly enjoy reading the biographies of scientists, and… ![“I greatly enjoy reading the biographies of scientists, and when doing so I always hope to learn the secrets of their success. Alas, those secrets generally remain elusive.” quote by Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jack-w-szostak-40620_alas_i-greatly-enjoy-reading-the-biographies_543398.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jack-w-szostak-40620_alas_i-greatly-enjoy-reading-the-biographies_543398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/559/jack-w-szostak-40620_alas_i-greatly-enjoy-reading-the-biographies_543398.jpg) > “I greatly enjoy reading the biographies of scientists, and when doing so I always hope to learn the secrets of their success. Alas, those secrets generally remain elusive.” [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading scientists' biographies inspires curiosity, but their true success secrets are often hidden. **In simple terms:** Biographies inspire but rarely reveal success secrets. Key Takeaway Seek lessons, accept mystery. Themes inspiration learning secrets Mood inquisitive hopeful Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - career planning - education - personal development Key Concepts biography motivation knowledge acquisition Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from scientists' journeys? - How to you handle elusive secrets? A Different Perspective Success may be context‑dependent and not fully transferable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading biographies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-biographies/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists/) [Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [I enjoy reading biographies because I want to know about the people who messed up the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-dressler/i-enjoy-reading-biographies-because-i-want-to-know-about-the-people/) [Marie Dressler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-dressler/) > [To tell your own secrets is generally folly, but that folly is without guilt; to communicate those with which we are intrusted is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/to-tell-your-own-secrets-is-generally-folly-but-that-folly-is-without/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Secrets are generally terrible. Beauty is not often hidden — only ugliness and deformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/secrets-are-generally-terrible-beauty-is-not-often-hidden-only/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [Secrets are generally terrible. Beauty is not hidden--only ugliness and deformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/secrets-are-generally-terrible-beauty-is-not-hidden-only-ugliness-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scientists should be doing a better job of guarding their own reputations and of the general scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-f-jacobson/scientists-should-be-doing-a-better-job-of-guarding-their-own/) [Michael F. Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-f-jacobson/) > [I think we knew that this would be just like raising the kids together, this would be a fun thing to do in partnership.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-think-we-knew-that-this-would-be-just-like-raising-the-kids/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [These are people from everywhere, from Lawrence Livermore and JPL and Sandia National Labs, the FBI, all over the place, real scientists who see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-savage/these-are-people-from-everywhere-from-lawrence-livermore-and-jpl-and/) [Adam Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-savage/) > [“Of course the Curies died. They identified ionizing radiation while bathing in it. There were risks involved in being your own guinea pig. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/of-course-the-curies-died-they-identified-ionizing-radiation-while/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > [Science fiction rarely is about scientists doing real science, in its slowness, its vagueness, the sort of tedious quality of getting out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/science-fiction-rarely-is-about-scientists-doing-real-science-in-its/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [I like reading biographies because most of them are slightly similar, and it's voyeuristic, looking into someone's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-barnett/i-like-reading-biographies-because-most-of-them-are-slightly-similar/) [Courtney Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-barnett/) > [I have very positive memories of reading biographies of unusual Americans as a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/i-have-very-positive-memories-of-reading-biographies-of-unusual/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [I've been a lifelong horror fan, but at the same time, I would say 90 percent of my reading is biographies and nonfiction history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/i-ve-been-a-lifelong-horror-fan-but-at-the-same-time-i-would-say-90/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [In my downtime, you'll mostly find me curled up with a book. I love reading biographies. My favourites are those of Dalai Lama, Osama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhur-bhandarkar/in-my-downtime-you-ll-mostly-find-me-curled-up-with-a-book-i-love/) [Madhur Bhandarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhur-bhandarkar/) > [“I liked reading biographies of writers, even if (as was the case with Monsieur Rabelais)I'd never read any of their actual writing. I flipped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-liked-reading-biographies-of-writers-even-if-as-was-the-case-with/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. \[...\] I think biographies are very urgent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-read-so-ravenously-that-i-would-read-through-whole-categories-i-was/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) ## More by Jack W. Szostak > [What do cells do when they see a broken piece of DNA? Cells don't like such breaks. They'll do pretty much anything they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/what-do-cells-do-when-they-see-a-broken-piece-of-dna-cells-don-t-like/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [I was born in London, England during the great fog of 1952, but survived the coal-fueled air pollution with no ill effects and after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/i-was-born-in-london-england-during-the-great-fog-of-1952-but/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [I do not know why I have always been fascinated by science or why I have been driven by the intense desire to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/i-do-not-know-why-i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-science-or-why-i/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [“My laboratory is interested in the related challenges of understanding the origin of life on the early earth, and constructing synthetic cellular life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/my-laboratory-is-interested-in-the-related-challenges-of/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [Years ago R.N.A. was kind of a bit player in the cell. Now our picture's completely inverted, and we think R.N.A.'s really the important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/years-ago-r-n-a-was-kind-of-a-bit-player-in-the-cell-now-our-picture/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [The thing about the Nobel ceremony is that for a whole week, you get treated like a superstar. You get driven everywhere. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/the-thing-about-the-nobel-ceremony-is-that-for-a-whole-week-you-get/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [I remember in 1967, when there was that terrible fire on NASA's Apollo 1 rocket that killed three astronauts, my father made pure oxygen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/i-remember-in-1967-when-there-was-that-terrible-fire-on-nasa-s-apollo/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [In my lab, we're interested in the transition from chemistry to early biology on the early earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/in-my-lab-we-re-interested-in-the-transition-from-chemistry-to-early/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) > [I have generally sought to work on questions that I thought were both interesting and approachable, yet not too widely appreciated. To struggle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/i-have-generally-sought-to-work-on-questions-that-i-thought-were-both/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) [Explore all 10 Jack W. Szostak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) ## More Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) Browse all 453 Alas quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I greatly enjoy reading the biographies of scientists, and when doing so I always hope to learn the secrets of their success. 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