--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My only supporter and comrade-in-arms was…" description: "\"My only supporter and comrade-in-arms was Georg Helm, who had endeavored to formulate an energetic conception of science before me and had presented hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/wilhelm-ostwald-28861_allies_my-only-supporter-and-comrade-in-arms-wa_142681.jpg" --- # My only supporter and comrade-in-arms was Georg Helm, who… ![“My only supporter and comrade-in-arms was Georg Helm, who had endeavored to formulate an energetic conception of science before me and had presented his results in a treatise [Die Lehre von der Energie] exhibiting great independence of thought. But we were separated by his aversion to a realistic…” quote by Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/wilhelm-ostwald-28861_allies_my-only-supporter-and-comrade-in-arms-wa_142681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/wilhelm-ostwald-28861_allies_my-only-supporter-and-comrade-in-arms-wa_142681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e54/wilhelm-ostwald-28861_allies_my-only-supporter-and-comrade-in-arms-wa_142681.jpg) > “My only supporter and comrade-in-arms was Georg Helm, who had endeavored to formulate an energetic conception of science before me and had presented his results in a treatise \[Die Lehre von der Energie\] exhibiting great independence of thought. But we were separated by his aversion to a realistic conception of energy. Consequently, each of us considered the other only a half ally, toward whom an attitude of caution was necessary.” [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a cautious, half‑allied relationship with Georg Helm due to differing scientific views. **In simple terms:** Cautious collaboration despite differing ideas. Key Takeaway Maintain respect, manage disagreements. Themes science collaboration caution intellectual independence Mood analytical thoughtful Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - research projects - academic discourse - team science Key Concepts history of science philosophy personal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust a colleague? - How to bridge differing views? A Different Perspective Ideological gaps can limit cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Aversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aversion/) [Caution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caution/) [Comrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comrade/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Energetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energetic/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Independence of thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence-of-thought/) ## Related quotes > [A society with too few independent thinkers is vulnerable to control by disturbed and opportunistic leaders. A society which wants to create and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-society-with-too-few-independent-thinkers-is-vulnerable-to-control/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Independence of thought is a most valuable quality in a chess-player, both at the board and when preparing for a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bronstein/independence-of-thought-is-a-most-valuable-quality-in-a-chess-player/) [David Bronstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bronstein/) > [Now and then women should do for themselves what men have already done—occasionally what men have not done—thereby establishing themselves as persons, and perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/now-and-then-women-should-do-for-themselves-what-men-have-already/) [Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/) > [Among the droves of men with political ambitions in the United States, I found very few with that virile candor, that manly independence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/among-the-droves-of-men-with-political-ambitions-in-the-united-states/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [ In the long run \[censorship\] will create a generation incapable of appreciating the difference between independence of thought and subservience. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/in-the-long-run-censorship-will-create-a-generation-incapable-of/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [“The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/the-fact-is-that-censorship-always-defeats-its-own-purpose-for-it-2/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [“The development of science and of the creative activities of the spirit requires a freedom that consists in the independence of thought from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-development-of-science-and-of-the-creative-activities-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“What this world needs more than almost anything else is independence of thought. The average man has no confidence in his own judgment unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-this-world-needs-more-than-almost-anything-else-is-independence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Freedom is a feeling, and the brave heart gets it ، Independence is a thought, and an enlightened mind can obtain it .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elhachemi-sabi/freedom-is-a-feeling-and-the-brave-heart-gets-it-independence-is-a/) Elhachemi Sabi > [“The mania for giving the Government power to meddle with the private affairs of cities or citizens is likely to cause endless trouble, through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-mania-for-giving-the-government-power-to-meddle-with-the-private-2/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The most unpardonable sin in society is independence of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-most-unpardonable-sin-in-society-is-independence-of-thought/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“The American tradition of separation of church and state grew directly from the freethinking of the Founders. After political independence, they considered independence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wolf-shenk/the-american-tradition-of-separation-of-church-and-state-grew/) [Joshua Wolf Shenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wolf-shenk/) > [. . . besides love, independence of thought is the greatest gift an adult can give a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/besides-love-independence-of-thought-is-the-greatest-gift-an-adult/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“In teaching me independence of thought, they had given me the greatest gift an adult can give to a child besides love, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/in-teaching-me-independence-of-thought-they-had-given-me-the-greatest/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [“We are kind people in an unkind world, to paraphrase Wallace Stevens. How do you pretend you don't know about it, after you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/we-are-kind-people-in-an-unkind-world-to-paraphrase-wallace-stevens/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) ## More by Wilhelm Ostwald > [It has pleased no less than surprised me that of the many studies whereby I have sought to extend the field of general chemistry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/it-has-pleased-no-less-than-surprised-me-that-of-the-many-studies/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [“I am now convinced that we have recently become possessed of experimental evidence of the discrete or grained nature of matter, which the atomic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/i-am-now-convinced-that-we-have-recently-become-possessed-of/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [“Die Wissenschaft ist ein Land, welches die Eigenschaft hat, um so mehr Menschen beherbergen zu können, je mehr Bewohner sich darin sammeln; sie ist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/die-wissenschaft-ist-ein-land-welches-die-eigenschaft-hat-um-so-mehr/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [The well-known fact that the form of a specific substance, e.g. water, and hence its properties can alter without a change in composition was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/the-well-known-fact-that-the-form-of-a-specific-substance-e-g-water/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [In other words, the Church acknowledges Science as the higher authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/in-other-words-the-church-acknowledges-science-as-the-higher-authority/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [The distinction between the old and the new formulations consisting in the incorporation of the concept of the rate of chemical reactions is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/the-distinction-between-the-old-and-the-new-formulations-consisting/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [In specific circumstances the period of aging decline can set in earlier in a particular organ than in the organism as a whole which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/in-specific-circumstances-the-period-of-aging-decline-can-set-in/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [The development of a rational view of the nature of catalysis was thus absolutely dependent on the creation of the concept of the rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/the-development-of-a-rational-view-of-the-nature-of-catalysis-was/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [Science is one land, having the ability to accommodate even more people, as more residents gather in it; it is a treasure that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/science-is-one-land-having-the-ability-to-accommodate-even-more/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [The worst manifestations of exhaustion were successfully cured by a long period of rest but it was immediately apparent to me that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/the-worst-manifestations-of-exhaustion-were-successfully-cured-by-a/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [Soon afterwards I studied the inversion of sugar in the light of these considerations and immediately found that this classical reaction, too, was determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/soon-afterwards-i-studied-the-inversion-of-sugar-in-the-light-of/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [For, with pure water the inversion of cane sugar scarcely proceeds and subsequently it required very thorough, difficult studies before this effect and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/for-with-pure-water-the-inversion-of-cane-sugar-scarcely-proceeds-and/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [Faced with this general consideration it will immediately be realized on inquiry into the particular position occupied within this general scheme by the scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/faced-with-this-general-consideration-it-will-immediately-be-realized/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [In the first quarter of the nineteenth century the experimental proof for the interdependence of the composition and properties of chemical compounds resulted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/in-the-first-quarter-of-the-nineteenth-century-the-experimental-proof/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [Nowadays, however, we recognize that simultaneously with the typical case of a chemical reaction a typical case of catalytic effect had been studied which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/nowadays-however-we-recognize-that-simultaneously-with-the-typical/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) [Explore all 19 Wilhelm Ostwald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) ## More Allies quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) Joseph Joffre > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What would your life be like if your body were your friend and ally?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/what-would-your-life-be-like-if-your-body-were-your-friend-and-ally/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [There is an irreplaceable ally. It's called the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/there-is-an-irreplaceable-ally-it-s-called-the-united-states-of/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [It would have been easier to fight alone with inadequate forces than to have to accept...responsibility for our ally's lack of fighting qualities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kesselring/it-would-have-been-easier-to-fight-alone-with-inadequate-forces-than/) [Albert Kesselring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kesselring/) > [It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you become really committed to winning and become a genuine ally of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/it-isn-t-until-you-begin-to-fight-in-your-own-cause-that-you-become/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul \[of Tarsus\], Teresa of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheists-who-write-off-religion-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [My own take on the word "transgender" is that it's an umbrella term for anyone who breaks any rules, laws, guidelines or protocol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/my-own-take-on-the-word-transgender-is-that-it-s-an-umbrella-term-for/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) [Browse all 1,053 Allies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My only supporter and comrade-in-arms was Georg Helm, who had endeavored to formulate an energetic conception of science before me and had presented his results in a treatise [Die Lehre von der Energie] exhibiting great independence of thought. 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