“I maintain that the cosmic religious feeling is the strongest and noblest motive for scientific research.”

“I assert that the cosmic religious experience is the strongest and the noblest driving force behind scientific research.”

“The noblest motive is the public good.”

“Those whose acquaintance with scientific research is derived chiefly from its practical results easily develop a completely false notion of the mentality of the men who, surrounded by a skeptical world, have shown the way to kindred spirits scattered wide through the world and through the centuries. Only one who has devoted his life to similar ends can have a vivid realization of what has inspired these men and given them the strength to remain true to their purpose in spite of countless failures. It is cosmic religious feeling that gives a man such strength. A contemporary has said, not unjustly, that in this materialistic age of ours the serious scientific workers are the only profoundly religious people.”

“The science of a religious man must be scientific; the religion of a scientific man must be religious.”

“A conviction akin to religious feeling of the rationality or intelligibility of the world lies behind all scientific work of a high order.”