Admiration Quote by Joseph McCabe
““{ McCabe on the influential scientist Luther Burbank } His magnificent work, which added an incalculable sum to the wealth of America and left him a comparatively poor man, is well known. His own simple account of his discoveries runs to 12 volumes and is incomplete. I was one of the few men whom he admitted to his house in Santa Rosa in the few months before he died and I found him advanced even beyond the vague Emersonian theism of his earlier years. He agreed to see me, he said, though he was tired and ill, because of his admiration of my work as a rationalist. He had just raised a storm by a public declaration that he did not believe in a future life, and his biographer Wilbur Hale repeats this.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Review of Luther Burbank, 1930s
Burbank's immense contributions contrasted with personal poverty; his humility and rationalism persisted despite fame.
In simple terms: Great work can coexist with modest means.
Key Takeaway
Value contribution over wealth.
Themes
science
humility
legacy
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
historical
reflective
When to use this quote
- research labs
- public speaking
- teaching
- grant writing
Key Concepts
botany
philosophy of science
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor modest contributors?
- What drives you beyond profit?
A Different Perspective
Wealth does not guarantee recognition.
