Lewis Thomas

Date of Birth: November 25, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: December 3, 1993

Biography

Lewis Thomas was an American physician, poet, etymologist, essayist, administrator, educator, policy advisor, and researcher. Born on November 25, 1913, in Flushing, New York, Thomas made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and biology. He graduated from Princeton University and later from Harvard Medical School. Thomas held prominent positions at several prestigious institutions, including New York University School of Medicine, Yale University, and Rockefeller University. He served as the Dean of Yale Medical School and later as President of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Thomas was celebrated for his essays and books, which provide profound insights into the interconnectedness of nature, biology, and humanity. His most famous work, “The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher,” won the National Book Award in 1974. Thomas’s eloquent prose and deep understanding of science made complex topics accessible to the general public.

5 Interesting Facts about Lewis Thomas

1. Lewis Thomas’s book, “The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher,” won the National Book Award in 1974.

2. He served as the Dean of Yale Medical School from 1967 to 1973.

3. Thomas was the President of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1973 to 1980.

4. He was a proponent of the idea that viruses play a crucial role in the evolution of life.

5. Thomas wrote a regular column for the New England Journal of Medicine, which was later compiled into several books.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lewis Thomas

1. “We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language… we have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness is about as close to a ‘common goal’ of nature as I can guess at.”

2. “The great secret of doctors, known only to their wives but still hidden from the public, is that most things get better by themselves; most things, in fact, are better in the morning.”

3. “Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment.”

4. “The future is to be found in the past by those who are wise enough to look.”

5. “Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Lewis Thomas’s net worth was not publicly documented, but as a prominent figure in medicine and literature, he achieved significant professional success and recognition.