“I just can’t sit while people are saying nonsense in a meeting without saying it’s nonsense.”
Scientific American Vol. 288, Issue 4 (2003), p. 54
James D. Watson: Quotes about people
James D. Watson is American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist.. Explore interesting quotes on people.James D. Watson: 94 quotes3 likes
“To succeed in science, you have to avoid dumb people”
Succeeding in Science: Some Rules of Thumb (1993)
Context: To succeed in science, you have to avoid dumb people (here I was still following Luria's example). Now that might sound inexcusably flip, but the fact is that you must always turn to people who are brighter than yourself.
“The thought that some people are innately wicked disturbs me.”
To question genetic intelligence is not racism (2007)
Context: The thought that some people are innately wicked disturbs me. But science is not here to make us feel good. It is to answer questions in the service of knowledge and greater understanding.
In finding out the extent to which genes influence moral behaviour, we shall also be able to understand how genes influence intellectual capacities.
“Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you're not going to hire them.”
As quoted in "Nobel Winner's Theories Raise Uproar in Berkeley", by Tom Abate, San Francisco Chronicle (13 November 2000) http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Nobel-Winner-s-Theories-Raise-Uproar-in-Berkeley-3236584.php
To question genetic intelligence is not racism (2007)
“If you could make people with ten-point-higher IQs, we'd probably have fewer wars.”
What I've Learned: James Watson (2007)
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty. I think it would be great.”
As quoted in "Stupidity should be cured, says DNA discoverer", by Shaoni Bhattacharya, New Scientist (28 February 2003) http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3451#.VHpLJzGsWPY.