"——永 远需要独立思考。” from Page 457, "Force of Nature - the Life of L

    “作为老一代人中的一员，也许我应当向你们作一点训示，但我不想这样做，”他向在场听众高声说道。“我倒向你们提一条建议，就是你们应当 怎样对待自己的前辈。一位德高望重的长者在向你们讲话的时候，应当抱着尊敬的态度认真地听——但别相信他，除了相信你自己的智力以外，不要轻易相信任何 事。你们的长者，不管他的头发是否已经灰白，是否已经脱落，不管他是不是一个诺贝尔奖得主，都有可能出错……因此，你们应当永远持有一种怀疑的态度——永 远需要独立思考。”
 

The Nobel ceremony, which Pauling remembered as "one of the most impressive . . . held in the modern world," was held in the ornate Stockholm Concert Hall, where Pauling received his gold Nobel medal from Sweden’s King Gustavus VI.

That evening, Pauling was asked to give an address to a crowd of hundreds of cheering Swedish university students who had arrived in a torchlight parade to honor the new Nobelists. His words were reprinted in all the newspapers in the nation:

"Perhaps as one of the older generation, I should preach a little sermon to you, but I do not propose to do so. I shall, instead, give you a word of advice about how to behave toward your elders," he said, his voice ringing clearly across the crowded square. "When an old and distinguished person speaks to you. Listen to him carefully and with respect — but do not believe him. Never put your trust in anything but your own intellect. Your elder, no matter whether he has gray hair or has lost his hair, no matter whether he is a Nobel Laureate, may be wrong. . . . So you must always be skeptical — always think for yourself."

The students cheered wildly.