Day of a Scientist 177 



even a simpler level, we all seem to feel that there is some- 

 thing a little indecent about anything which isn't the pure 

 pursuit of new knowledge. No one ever seems to take a 

 different job without someone else muttering either that he 

 *saw the handwriting on the wall,' or 'really Uked adminis- 

 tration and committee meetings,' as if that was some sort 

 of mental illness, or worst of all *he just about had to be- 

 cause his wife likes nice things.' " 



Bill thought a moment, and then rather slowly began to 

 talk in a way which suggested that he was putting some 

 thoughts together for the first time. "What it all comes down 

 to, Sam, is that in order to do anything really well, you have 

 to beheve in it down to the tip of your toes. Frequently, 

 though not always of course, the best painters, the best 

 poets and writers, and notoriously the best opera singers and 

 ballet dancers are difiicult to live with because they feel 

 compelled to sacrifice just about everything to the ultimate 

 perfection of their art. Actually, the best scientists seem to 

 have less need than the best artists to sacrifice 'everything' 

 for their creative urge. Offhand, I can't think of any top 

 scientist who was as absolutely nasty to his wife as Leo 

 Tolstoy or as difficult for his boss to deal with as Michel- 

 angelo was for Pope Julian. 



"Nevertheless, a research scientist is bound to think that 

 research is the most important thing in the world. I think so 

 myself for that matter. 



"It's not the only thing though, and I wonder if some of 

 those characters who are so vocal about not wanting to 

 teach or do administration are really not protecting them- 

 selves from something. Basically, they just may not want 

 to recognize that they aren't good with people. Many of 

 them seem to be unable to tolerate situations where there 

 isn't a clear yes or no answer as there usually is in a lab. 



