--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it was suggested to Pasteur that…" description: "\"When it was suggested to Pasteur that many of his great achievements depended on luck, he replied - I'm sure with more than a little irritation - 'In t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/lewis-wolpert-12777_achievement_when-it-was-suggested-to-pasteur-that-ma_92986.jpg" --- # When it was suggested to Pasteur that many of his great… ![“When it was suggested to Pasteur that many of his great achievements depended on luck, he replied - I'm sure with more than a little irritation - 'In the field of observation in science, fortune only favours the prepared mind.' It is not by chance that it is always the great scientists who have…” quote by Lewis Wolpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/lewis-wolpert-12777_achievement_when-it-was-suggested-to-pasteur-that-ma_92986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/lewis-wolpert-12777_achievement_when-it-was-suggested-to-pasteur-that-ma_92986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1d/lewis-wolpert-12777_achievement_when-it-was-suggested-to-pasteur-that-ma_92986.jpg) > “When it was suggested to Pasteur that many of his great achievements depended on luck, he replied - I'm sure with more than a little irritation - 'In the field of observation in science, fortune only favours the prepared mind.' It is not by chance that it is always the great scientists who have the luck.” [Lewis Wolpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-wolpert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific breakthroughs often appear lucky, but they favor those who have prepared minds ready to recognize and exploit opportunities. **In simple terms:** Preparation creates luck. Key Takeaway Readiness yields opportunity. Themes science preparedness fortune observation Mood inspired reflective Type historical anecdote philosophical insight When to use this quote - research design - career mentorship - skill acquisition Key Concepts incidental discovery cognitive readiness Practical Applications - Cultivate systematic observation habits to spot unexpected patterns Questions to Reflect On - How can you train yourself to notice hidden patterns? - What practices keep your mind ‘prepared’? A Different Perspective Not all luck is skill‑based; random chance still plays a role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Great achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-achievement/) [Great scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-scientist/) [Irritation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritation/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pasteur/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [Both Newton and Darwin were driven by the data and were forced to recognize that they couldn't explain everything. 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