I should not like to leave an impression that all structural problems can be settled by X-ray analysis or that all crystal structures are easy to solve. I seem to have spent much more of my life not solving structures than solving them.
This quote highlights the persistent challenges and often unpredictable nature of scientific discovery. It emphasizes that progress is not always linear and that perseverance through failures is essential. The acknowledgment of spending more time not solving structures than solving them underscores the reality that setbacks are integral to innovation. It encourages humility and patience in pursuit of scientific understanding, recognizing that advances often come after considerable effort and persistence rather than straightforward solutions.