Even preeminent researchers may underestimate the significance of their findings at the time they obtain them. When Salvador Luria, my university microbiology professor, received the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, he made the point eloquently, sending a humorous cartoon to all who had congratulated him on the award.
甚至杰出研究者也会在做出发现时低估这些发现的重要性。我校微生物学教授萨尔瓦多·鲁里亚（Salvador Luria）是1969年诺贝尔生理学和医学奖获得者，他就调侃过这一现象。他向所有庆祝他获奖的人寄去一幅幽默漫画。漫画描绘了一对坐在早餐桌前的老夫妻。丈夫看着日报，大声说：“了不起的斯科特！我获得了诺贝尔奖！原因是我在1934年所说，所做，所想的东西！”