Donald Cram Quotes

United States, Chemist
April 22, 1919 – June, 17, 2001.

Donald James Cram (April 22, 1919 – June 17, 2001) was an American chemist who shared the 1987 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Jean-Marie Lehn and Charles J. Pedersen "for their development and use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity." They were the founders of the field of host–guest chemistry.

To retain my fascination with chemistry, I have had to change my research fields about every 10 years.

Donald Cram
This is largely the methodology I've used throughout my career - that is, starting with a question as to what might be the properties of a set of compounds that could be invented which were unusual and unpredictable. Many times I've felt a bit like Columbus setting sail.

Donald Cram
- Career
- Question

An investigator starts research in a new field with faith, a foggy idea, and a few wild experiments. Eventually the interplay of negative and positive results guides the work. By the time the research is completed, he or she knows how it should have been started and conducted.

Donald Cram
- Time
- Work
- She
By the time I entered college, I had decided not to have children, a decision that was never regretted. Accordingly, I was careful to court only girls who wanted to have professional careers.

Donald Cram
- Time
- Children
- College
Few scientists acquainted with the chemistry of biological systems at the molecular level can avoid being inspired.

Donald Cram
- Inspired
We usually don't have applications in mind. They come later.

Donald Cram
- Mind