--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We three have never been very good…" description: "\"We three have never been very good chemists but we are gratified with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Peter Principle says that everyone is promoted un..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/jacques-dubochet-41031_chemistry_we-three-have-never-been-very-good-chemi_1394067.jpg" --- # We three have never been very good chemists but we are… ![“We three have never been very good chemists but we are gratified with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Peter Principle says that everyone is promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. We are worried that we may have reached this remarkable point.” quote by Jacques Dubochet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/jacques-dubochet-41031_chemistry_we-three-have-never-been-very-good-chemi_1394067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/jacques-dubochet-41031_chemistry_we-three-have-never-been-very-good-chemi_1394067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/jacques-dubochet-41031_chemistry_we-three-have-never-been-very-good-chemi_1394067.jpg) > “We three have never been very good chemists but we are gratified with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Peter Principle says that everyone is promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. We are worried that we may have reached this remarkable point.” [Jacques Dubochet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-dubochet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. They acknowledge limited chemistry skills yet celebrate a Nobel win, while fearing they may have hit their competence ceiling. **In simple terms:** Celebrate achievements despite doubts. Key Takeaway Embrace success while staying humble. Themes science achievement humility self-doubt Mood reflective proud Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - research labs - public speaking - career reflection Key Concepts Nobel Prize Peter Principle competence ceiling Questions to Reflect On - Are you comfortable with your current level? - How will you continue to grow? A Different Perspective Success may mask underlying skill gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry/) [Chemistry Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry-peter-4867200/) [Chemists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemists/) [Chemists Gratified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemists-gratified-4867202/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Chemists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-chemists-4867201/) [Incompetence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetence/) [Nobel prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobel-prize/) [Peter Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peter-principle-213204/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Prize Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prize-chemistry-446859/) ## Related quotes > [The citation for the 1971 Nobel Prize in Chemistry reads, 'for contribution to the knowledge of electronic structures and geometry of molecules, especially free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-herzberg/the-citation-for-the-1971-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-reads-for/) [Gerhard Herzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-herzberg/) > [ “I might paraphrase Churchill and say: never have I received so much for so little. \[Exemplifying humility, upon accepting the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-federico-leloir/i-might-paraphrase-churchill-and-say-never-have-i-received-so-much-2/) [Luis Federico Leloir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-federico-leloir/) > [Donald Trump has taken the Peter Principle to unprecedented heights. 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