武夷山 辑译
2021年5月12日，我参加了一个基础研究主题的研讨会。此事激发我收集、翻译一些提及基础研究的英语名言。
In basic research, intellectual rigor and sentimental freedom necessarily alternate.
——Victor Vasarely，1906-1997，出生于匈牙利的法国艺术家
No matter how counter-intuitive it may seem, basic research has proven over and over to be the lifeline of practical advances in medicine.
——Arthur Kornberg，1959年生理学或医学诺贝尔奖得主
不管听起来也许是多么反直觉，但基础研究已一而再、再而三地被证明是医学实际进展的生命线。
The medicines of today are based upon thousands of years of knowledge accumulated from folklore, serendipity and scientific discovery. The new medicines of tomorrow will be based on the discoveries that are being made now, arising from basic research in laboratories around the world.
——John Vane，1982年生理学或医学诺贝尔奖得主
今天的药物是基于积累了几千年的来自民间传说的知识、偶然发现和科学发现。明天的新药则将基于目前世界各地实验室的基础研究所产生的发现。
I am happy that I have so many friends all over the world who contributed to my research work, and I believe that also in the future, basic research offers the best opportunity of reaching across borders and overcoming ideological barriers.
——Klaus von Klitzing，1985年诺贝尔物理学奖得主
我很高兴自己的朋友遍布全世界，他们对我的科研工作做出了贡献，我还认为在将来，基础研究会提供跨越国界、克服意识形态障碍的最佳机会。
Why do we do basic research? To learn about ourselves.
—— Walter Gilbert，1980年诺贝尔化学奖得主
Whilst worthy in themselves, applications shouldn"t be the only way to drive basic research.
——John Sulston，2002年生理学或医学诺贝尔奖得主
应用本身就很有价值，但是应用不应该是驱动基础研究的唯一方式。
Industry now should become a full partner of government in supporting longrange basic research.
——Kenneth G. Wilson，1982年诺贝尔物理学奖得主
Basic scientific research is scientific capital.
——Vannevar Bush，1890-1974，美国伟大的科学家和工程师，《科学：无尽的前沿》报告的作者
The element of chance in basic research is overrated. Chance is a lady who smiles only upon those few who know how to make her smile.
——Hans Selye，1907-1982，匈牙利裔加拿大生理学家
基础研究中的机遇成分被夸大了。机遇是一位淑女，她只对懂得如何使她微笑的少数人展露笑容。
Basic research is what I am doing when I don"t know what I am doing.
——Wernher von Braun，沃纳·冯·布劳恩，1912-1977，德裔火箭专家
Societies will, of course, wish to exercise prudence in deciding which technologies that is, which applications of science are to be pursued and which not. But without funding basic research, without supporting the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake, our options become dangerously limited.
——Carl Sagan，美国天体物理学家、科普大师，1934-1996
当然，社会在确定要采用或不采用哪些技术，或采用不采用科学的哪些应用时愿意谨慎从事。但是，若不资助基础研究，不支持单纯的知识获取，则我们的选择会少到危险的地步。
The companies that can afford to do basic research (and can"t afford not to) are ones that dominate their markets. ... It"s cheap insurance, since failing to do basic research guarantees that the next major advance will be oened by someone else.
——Robert X. Cringely，1987-95期间InfoWorld（信息世界）杂志Notes From the Field（现场报道）栏目的作者的笔名，涉及的真实作者不止一人
有实力做基础研究的公司（它们也不敢不做基础研究）都是在市场上居于支配地位的公司......这相当于廉价的保险，因为若不做基础研究，则肯定下一项重大进展将落在别人头上。
