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Home > Dictionary of Science Quotations > Scientist Names Index S > Robert Falcon Scott Quotes

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Robert Falcon Scott
(6 Jun 1868 - c. 27 Mar 1912)

English explorer who led an ill-fated expedition to the South Pole, reached 17 Jan 1912, only to find Norwegian Roald Amundsen's party had beaten them there, thirty-five days earlier. All five members of Scott's group died on the return journey.


Science Quotes by Robert Falcon Scott (1 quote)

Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for.
[Final words in a 'Message to the Public' left written in his diary dated 25 March 1912, shortly before he died on the Ross Ice Barrier, Antarctica. When searchers found his body, on 12 Nov 1912, Scott was discovered sitting upright against the pole of the tent with the diary behind his head, as if for a pillow.]
— Robert Falcon Scott
Final words in a 'Message to the Public' left written in his diary dated 25 March 1912, shortly before he died on the Ross Ice Barrier, Antarctica. In Logan Marshall, The Story of Polar Conquest: The Complete History of Arctic and Antarctic (1913), 24-25. by Logan Marshall - Polar regions - 1913
Science quotes on:  |  Against (332)  |  Antarctica (8)  |  Autobiography (58)  |  Barrier (34)  |  Behind (139)  |  Body (557)  |  Companion (22)  |  Country (269)  |  Courage (82)  |  Death (406)  |  Discover (571)  |  Endurance (8)  |  Exploration (161)  |  Final (121)  |  Great (1610)  |  Heart (243)  |  Ice (58)  |  March (48)  |  Message (53)  |  Must (1525)  |  Pole (49)  |  See (1094)  |  Sitting (44)  |  Surely (101)  |  Tale (17)  |  Tell (344)  |  Tent (13)  |  Will (2350)  |  Word (650)



Quotes by others about Robert Falcon Scott (1)

For scientific leadership, give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton.
As quoted in 'Profile: Sir James Wordie, Exploration’s Elder Statesman', The New Scientist (5 Dec 1957), 25.
Science quotes on:  |  Roald Amundsen (2)  |  Efficient (34)  |  Hopeless (17)  |  Leadership (13)  |  Pray (19)  |  Swift (16)  |  Travel (125)


See also:
  • 6 Jun - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Scott's birth.

Carl Sagan Thumbnail In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. (1987) -- Carl Sagan
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