Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist and pharmacologist, made a groundbreaking discovery in 1928 with the identification of the antibiotic substance penicillin. Born in 1881, Fleming noticed the bacteria-inhibiting properties of a mold called Penicillium notatum, leading to the isolation of penicillin. This discovery revolutionized medicine, providing the first effective treatment for bacterial infections. Fleming’s work paved the way for the development of antibiotics, saving countless lives. In recognition of his contribution, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945, shared with Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain for their roles in penicillin’s mass production. Fleming’s legacy remains profound, with penicillin remaining a cornerstone of modern medicine, demonstrating the immense impact of serendipitous scientific discoveries. He passed away in 1955, leaving behind a lasting impact on the field of medicine and global health.

Alexander Fleming Quotes

1. “Nature makes penicillin; I just found it.”
— Alexander Fleming

2. “The unprepared mind cannot see the outstretched hand of opportunity.”
— Alexander Fleming

3. “Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy.”
— Alexander Fleming

4. “One sometimes finds what one is not looking for.”
— Alexander Fleming

5. “Penicillin sat on a shelf for ten years while I was called a quack.”
— Alexander Fleming

6. “If penicillin can cure those that are ill, Spanish sherry can bring the dead back to life.”
— Alexander Fleming

7. “For the birth of something new, there has to be a happening. Newton saw an apple fall; James Watt watched a kettle boil; Roentgen fogged some photographic plates. And these people knew enough to translate ordinary happenings into something new…”
— Alexander Fleming

8. “Suggested remedy for the common cold: A good gulp of whiskey at bedtime-it’s not very scientific, but it helps.”
— Alexander Fleming

9. “One sometimes finds what one is not looking for. When I woke up just after dawn on Sept. 28, 1928, I certainly didn’t plan to revolutionize all medicine by discovering the world’s first antibiotic, or bacteria killer. But I guess that was exactly what I did.”
— Alexander Fleming

10. “It is the lone worker who makes the first advance in a subject: the details may be worked out by a team, but the prime idea is due to the enterprise, thought, and perception of an individual.”
— Alexander Fleming