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The question

What fills you with the most pride?

Originally asked

Vogue, to one guest at a time, on camera, 73 Questions

Vogue's 73 Questions repeatedly asks respondents to select the work, relationship, or achievement that makes them proudest.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Charles H. Townes

Physicist; Nobel laureate in physics for the invention of the maser and laser

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
I suppose it’s easy to say, and it may be true, that my role in the development of the laser is perhaps the most important to society. Certainly in terms of applications, and the direct effects on humans, that has been quite important. On the other hand, there are other things which most people don’t know about, and in the scientific area, that I could argue are really quite important, the discoveries there.

Academy of Achievement interview, Berkeley, California, 18 March 1991 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 103 →
Sarina Wiegman Dutch football manager; head coach of the England women's national team
I really love the medals but what I’m proud of most, absolutely most, is that now young girls have perspective, young girls can play football and young girls can wear shirts [with players’ names on],
Recorded Suzanne Wrack, Interview on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, before the 2023 Women's World Cup, The Guardian, 14 July 2023 source ↗
Alejandro González Iñárritu Mexican film director; winner of Academy Awards for Birdman and The Revenant
I don’t regret having done it at all. I think everything that I went through was worth it. I am very proud. But I would not do it again.
Recorded The Talks interview, 27 January 2016 source ↗
Yo-Yo Ma Cellist
Mr. Rogers lives on. There’s so many legions of people that grew up with him, and they’re still in a way growing up with him. He, of course, was a minister. ... And the children of the show, in the neighborhood, are his ministry. And what a beautiful thing that is. So I, to this day, when someone says, “What are you most proud to have accomplished?” I am so proud to have been a part of that.
Recorded Krista Tippett, On Being, recorded before a live audience, On Being with Krista Tippett, 26 July 2018 source ↗
Tara VanDerveer Basketball coach; head coach of Stanford women's basketball 1985–2024
I’m probably—I’m probably most proud of, you know, just the relationships that I have with the players I’ve coached. When, you know, one of—you know, different player will, like, text me, like, you know, “I just had, you know, just had our daughter.” And I’m like, after an hour, I’m like, you know, that like, “Don’t you have something better to do?” You know, you’re an hour into having a newborn. But it’s great, you know. Or being invited to a wedding. You know, just being part of people’s lives
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview, New York City, 22 September 2024 source ↗

More from Charles H. Townes

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Question Do you rely more on inspiration or discipline to make your work? Craft & work
People tell me that I work hard. I never feel that I do particularly, because it’s fun. I always say, “Well, I’ve never worked hard in my life.” I’m busy, but most of what I do is enjoyable. It isn’t that it’s not tedious to some people, and so on, and of course I have routine to do, but I don’t mind it. I just don’t feel that I’m put upon. I spend a lot of time, but it’s fun. It’s a very intensive hobby. I would say it’s my most serious hobby. I have lots of hobbies, but the one permanent one is science, physics. So yes, I spend a lot of time, and I would agree with Edison, you have to work very hard and intensively.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview, Berkeley, California, 18 March 1991 source ↗
Question Which writers or artists have most influenced your work? Taste & recommendation
Most scientists do. Of course there are the classical figures. I might talk about Einstein a little bit, for example. Now, when I was in college, I was taking my second course in physics, I remember very well, and it had a chapter on relativity. And I took this relativity on a vacation in the mountains; my family went with me. And I remember very well sitting on a rock up in the hills there overlooking a stream, reading this relativity derivation. And it was just very exciting and interesting. It was a strange new world, relativity. I even thought I had found where Einstein made a mistake. And I went back for lunch, and I thought about it, came back. And I said, “No, he was right after all,” but it was still very exciting. To see a completely different kind of idea and world from what one’s normal intuition shows. Of course, Einstein was one of the great scientists; I’ve always admired him. I fortunately had a chance to talk with him and interact with him a little bit as well.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview, Berkeley, California, 18 March 1991 source ↗

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