I pictured myself as a virus or a cancer cell and tried to sense what it would be like.

Meaning of the quote

Jonas Salk, the famous American scientist, once said that he imagined himself as a virus or a cancer cell. He wanted to understand how they feel and what it's like to be them. This helped him study these harmful living things better and find ways to fight them. By trying to see things from the perspective of a virus or cancer cell, Salk could learn more about them and discover new ways to overcome them.

About Jonas Salk

Jonas Salk, an American virologist, developed one of the first successful polio vaccines in the 1950s. His groundbreaking work helped eliminate the disease in the United States and led to the founding of the prestigious Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

More about the author

More quotes from Jonas Salk

An artist’s only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else’s.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

The worst tragedy that could have befallen me was my success. I knew right away that I was through – cast out.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

It is always with excitement that I wake up in the morning wondering what my intuition will toss up to me, like gifts from the sea. I work with it and rely on it. It’s my partner.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

I pictured myself as a virus or a cancer cell and tried to sense what it would be like.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

Nothing happens quite by chance. It’s a question of accretion of information and experience.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have conquered my nightmares because of my dreams.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)

The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.

Jonas Salk

Jewish-American inventor of polio vaccine (1914-1995)