Harold E. Varmus Quotes

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

Before you contradict an old man, my fair friend, you should endeavor to understand him.

I don’t attack people. I attack ideas. And some very good people can have some very bad ideas.

I attack ideas. I don't attack people. And some very good people have some very bad ideas. And if you can't separate the two, you gotta get another day job. You don't want to be a judge. At least not a judge on a multi-member panel.

That's healthy and good for us that there are people who are prepared to question what we are doing.

The arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.

I want someone who can respectfully challenge me. I know what I believe, so there's no point in my taking on a relationship with someone who thinks like me or laughs at what I laugh at. I enjoy being with someone who can offer me the opposite.

I have multiple ideas per day, all the time. The vast majority of these are completely idiotic. Usually, I just sit on the idea for several months. And if I have not decided that it's idiotic, then it's... might be a good idea.

I remember sitting in on meetings where everyone in the room was twice as old as I was.

As you get older, you're doing different parts, but the young people, like yourself, they keep you excited, because they'll see Waterfront, and they'll want to talk about it.

I am somebody who focuses on a dialogue between generations - that's the drive of my work. I believe the young generation take the power; they'll take over at one point, but the older generation, they'll push it away only because of the fear. I'm the opposite; I'm curious.

If you want to give me a good faceful for one of my political positions, I can take it.

Surround yourself with good people. People who are going to be honest with you and look out for your best interests.

It's not about where you were born or where you come from that makes you a good scientist. What you need are good teachers, co-students, facilities.

It is the malady of our age that the young are so busy teaching us that they have no time left to learn.

To be dogmatic about a cause you believe in at the age of 20 or 30 is not unusual. But to be dogmatic at age 55 or 60 shows a lack of any learning capacity.

David is 13 years my senior and has much more experience.

It's always a good idea to let the audience make up their own minds.

Interestingly, it is often the younger members of the audience who ask the most sophisticated questions.

I have no problem with commenters stating strong opinions, except for my usual annoyance with people who don't agree with me.

I am grateful for even the sharpest criticism as long as it addresses the point.

One may criticize even what one reveres.

I think if you ignore the generation after yours, you will be obsolete very quickly.

Criticism is fine and conversation is fine, but the person who's criticizing should know what they're saying and whom they're criticizing.

If you disagree with me about a position I have taken, or what I've done, tell me, argue with me, debate. Sometimes, right and good are not that clear; at other times, it is only deliberate and respectful debate that leads us to understand what road we should take.