#163 Alfred Nobel

In this episode, the host delves into the complex character of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prizes, through Kenne Fant's biography "Alfred Nobel: A Biography." Nobel, a paradoxical figure described as a misanthrope yet benevolent, was a tireless worker and an introverted genius who shunned the limelight and found solace in work to escape his melancholic demons. Despite his aversion to public recognition, Nobel's private letters reveal a man grappling with self-absorption, loneliness, and the absurdity of existence. His work ethic and financial acumen were unparalleled, allowing him to amass great wealth, which he meticulously tracked, yet he remained emotionally isolated. The host's interest in Nobel's story is rooted in understanding the individuals behind famous legacies, similar to the Pulitzer story explored in an earlier episode. Nobel's legacy, however, was shaped by his reaction to a mistaken obituary that labeled him a "merchant of death," prompting him to leave his fortune to the cause of peace, creating an enduring testament to his hopes for humanity.

• Nobel viewed his life as ordinary and unworthy of profound reflection or publication.
• He described himself with paradoxical traits: a misanthropic yet benevolent person with philosophical inclinations.
• Nobel felt shame in response to admiration, suggesting a sense of unworthiness.
• He often used sarcasm to express his view on the absurdity of striving for significance among humanity.
• Nobel worked excessively long hours, possibly to avoid melancholy.
• He preferred written communication over meetings and had an aversion to publicity.
• Nobel's self-esteem was not reliant on the esteem of others.
• His private letters reveal his self-absorption, loneliness, and belief in life's absurdity.
• Nobel's actions, particularly the establishment of the Nobel Prizes, are his legacy.

"I am a misanthrope, and yet utterly benevolent, have more than one screw loose, yet am a super idealist who digests philosophy more efficiently than food."

This quote encapsulates Nobel's complex self-image, highlighting his perceived contradictions and philosophical nature.

"How pitiful to strive to be someone or something in the motley crew of 1.4 billion two-legged, tailless apes running around on our revolving earth."

Nobel expresses his cynical view of human endeavors and the futility of seeking recognition.

"Actions are the yardstick by which values can be measured."

Nobel believed that actions, rather than words or public image, are the true measure of a person's values.

• The host is intrigued by famous last names and their stories, as demonstrated by previous readings about Joseph Pulitzer.
• The contrast between Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite and his establishment of the Nobel Peace Prize is highlighted.
• Nobel's fortune, primarily from the invention of dynamite, was directed towards promoting peace after his death.
• The host aims to understand Nobel's character and motivations through his biography.

"The reason that he became such an infamous or famous and wealthy inventor and entrepreneur is because he's the inventor of dynamite."

This quote highlights the irony of Nobel's legacy, being both the inventor of a destructive substance and the founder of a peace prize.

"Alfred Nobel, the reason that he became such an infamous or famous and wealthy inventor and entrepreneur is because he's the inventor of dynamite."

The quote underscores the surprising connection between Nobel's invention and his peace-promoting legacy.

• Nobel was described as a misanthrope with a prickly personality.
• Despite his aversion to society, Nobel was a brilliant and capable individual.
• Nobel's entertaining and philosophical conversations were a delight to his audience.
• He was seen as a paradoxical figure, with a brilliant mind but a disdain for humanity.
• Nobel's early life and learning from his father's financial mistakes shaped his personality.

"Nobel could talk and philosophize in such an entertaining manner that it was pure pleasure and delight to his wrapped audience."

This quote illustrates Nobel's ability to captivate and intellectually stimulate those around him despite his misanthropic tendencies.

"He would soar like a wind-driven swallow from one subject to another, as seen against the rapid flight of his thought, our globe would shrink and its distances melt, becoming trivial."

Nobel's intellectual agility and ability to connect disparate ideas are emphasized in this metaphor.

• Nobel's father was also an inventor and entrepreneur with financial ups and downs.
• Alfred Nobel learned from his father's financial mismanagement.
• Nobel's father prioritized knowledge, leading to Alfred's education in chemistry.
• Alfred's health issues and father's social disgrace influenced his childhood.
• Nobel's father identified the distinct qualities of his sons: brains, discipline, and enterprise.
• Alfred Nobel's combination of these qualities contributed to his success.

"Alfred's growing bitterness derived in part from his sense that people around him did not measure up to his standards."

This quote reflects Nobel's high standards and resulting disappointment in others.

"Alfred would later criticize both his father and his brother for thinking the financing of a project secondary to Alfred solving the matter of financing was primary."

Nobel's emphasis on the importance of financing in business success is highlighted as a lesson learned from observing his father's and brother's mistakes.

"Brains, discipline, and enterprise."

This succinct summary captures the essence of Alfred Nobel's character as identified by his father.

• Nobel's father ensured his sons received the best education possible.
• Alfred Nobel was particularly interested in chemistry and was a gifted student.
• Nobel's chemistry teacher, Pederoff, played a significant role in his intellectual development.
• Nobel's personality traits of being averse to the collective and preferring individual thought were evident from a young age.
• Nobel's early work in his father's chemistry experiments laid the foundation for his future.

"Emmanuel Noble's experiences had taught him that knowledge is the most valuable of all assets."

This quote reflects the Nobel family's belief in the enduring value of knowledge.

"Alfred quickly and effortlessly caught up with his older brothers, and his teacher sensed his pupil's genius."

Nobel's intellectual capacity and rapid learning are emphasized, along with the recognition of his potential by his teacher.

"He was repelled by the collective and could never bring himself to go along with the pack."

Nobel's individualistic nature and reluctance to conform are encapsulated in this statement.

• Alfred Nobel experienced a significant personal transformation from a shy, sickly child to an efficient and tough entrepreneur.
• He was interested in various topics and was not easily surprised, indicating a broad and adaptive intellect.
• Alfred's self-awareness and determination to control his fate emerged during this period.
• He emphasized financial independence, setting up his business to avoid reliance on external funds.

"Out of a shy, brooding, sickly childhood arose an efficient and tough entrepreneur, interested in everything and surprised by nothing."

This quote highlights the contrast between Alfred Nobel's early years and his later development into a confident and capable businessman.

"He was not going to throw himself into the world and let luck or chance lead the way."

Alfred Nobel believed in shaping his own destiny rather than leaving it to chance, reflecting his proactive approach to life and business.

• Nobel's contributions were pivotal in expanding his family's small workshop into one of Russia's largest companies.
• He worked tirelessly, often to the point of exhaustion, demonstrating a strong work ethic.
• The company's reliance on the Russian government during the Crimean War led to financial instability after the war.

"Alfred worked with such enthusiasm that by summer of 1854, he became ill from overexertion."

This quote illustrates Nobel's intense dedication to his work, which, while contributing to the company's success, also negatively impacted his health.

"The majority of the company's revenue at the time is coming from the Russian government as they're fighting this war."

The company's financial success was closely tied to government contracts, which became a vulnerability when the government defaulted on payments.

• Nobel believed that inventions, as symbols of progress, belonged to all of humanity.
• He maintained that the work itself should be the reward, a belief stemming from his experiences with poverty.
• Nobel was critical of financial irresponsibility, as seen in his disagreements with his father and brother.

"This did not stop him from believing all inventions as symbols of progress belong to all of humanity."

Alfred Nobel saw inventions as a collective human heritage, emphasizing the importance of progress over personal gain.

"He never forgot the humiliation of poverty."

Nobel's personal experiences with poverty deeply influenced his values and his approach to business and financial management.

• Nobel's focus on cost management and financial control was similar to business magnates like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick.
• He was particularly concerned about debt and the financial recklessness of his family members.
• Nobel's own experiences with his family's financial struggles reinforced his commitment to financial prudence.

"The savings you get on accounting for your cost is permanent. Focus on that aspect of the business."

This quote underscores the importance Nobel placed on cost management as a fundamental and enduring aspect of a successful business.

"Alfred worried about his father taking out large loans."

Nobel's concern about debt reflects his cautious approach to financial management, shaped by the negative consequences he witnessed within his own family.

• Nobel's introduction to nitroglycerin was a turning point in his life, leading to his invention of dynamite.
• Despite the risks and initial lack of understanding, Nobel was driven to master the substance.
• His invention had significant demand due to its applications in both military and civilian sectors.

"He became fascinated by the substance and its remarkable and seemingly inexplicable behavior."

Nobel's fascination with nitroglycerin's properties motivated his experiments and ultimately led to his groundbreaking invention.

"For Alfred, this was the greatest challenge he'd ever faced, how to detonate this explosive and liberate its awesome power."

The challenge of controlling nitroglycerin's explosive power was a driving force behind Nobel's relentless experimentation and innovation.

• Nobel's fear of poverty was a significant motivator in his life and career.
• He meticulously recorded every expenditure, demonstrating his attention to detail in financial matters.
• Nobel's determination to not be poor again influenced his business decisions and personal financial habits.

"Alfred never forgot poverty."

Nobel's continual remembrance of poverty highlights its profound impact on his life choices and business strategies.

"Financial pressure was accelerating his development as an inventor."

The financial challenges Nobel faced spurred his inventive process and business development, showing how adversity can fuel creativity and progress.

• Nobel observed his father's inability to distinguish viable ideas from unrealizable ones.
• He learned from his father's mistakes, which helped him to become a more effective inventor and entrepreneur.
• Nobel's invention of dynamite solidified his position as a key figure in the explosive substance industry.

"Alfred could not have failed to notice his father's helplessness and self pity."

This observation of his father's shortcomings informed Nobel's own approach to entrepreneurship and innovation.

"His creative energy defined the development of the explosive substance industry."

Nobel's contributions had a lasting impact on the industry, illustrating the transformative power of his inventive work.

• Alfred Nobel is recognized for his significant contributions to the field of explosives.
• His work on initial ignition marked a major advancement since the creation of gunpowder.
• Nobel's invention of a detonating cap for dynamite is considered a foundational discovery in the field.

"Scientists in the field had declared his work on initial ignition to represent the greatest progress in explosive substance technique since the invention of gunpowder."

This quote emphasizes the groundbreaking nature of Nobel's work in explosives, highlighting the impact of his invention on the field.

"The introduction of a detonating cap, which is what dynamite has, writes to british historian FD Miles, is without a doubt the greatest discovery that has ever been made in the theory and practice of explosives."

The quote from historian FD Miles underscores the significance of Nobel's detonating cap invention, which revolutionized the use of explosives.

• Nobel's approach to invention was influenced by other great inventors like Edison.
• He valued the pursuit of many ideas, content if even one proved useful.
• Nobel's method involved working alone and relying on intuition, similar to Edison's principle of experimentation.

"If I can come up with 300 ideas in a year, he wrote, and only one of them is useful, I am content."

Nobel's quote reflects his philosophy on invention, where the value lies in the pursuit of numerous ideas in hopes of finding a successful one.

"It isn't the discovery of the filament that is so important, but the 10,000 other things that I tried that didn't work."

Edison's quote parallels Nobel's sentiment, emphasizing the importance of persistence and trial in the inventive process.

• Nobel experienced the dangers of pioneering in explosives firsthand.
• A tragic explosion at his factory resulted in the death of his brother Emil and others.
• The incident highlights the risks associated with developing new technologies.

"The yard outside the main building was deserted. When catastrophe hit, the laboratory in the shed exploded with a thunderous roar."

This eyewitness account describes the immediate aftermath of the explosion at Nobel's factory, illustrating the devastating impact of the accident.

"Most ghastly was the sight of the mutilated corpses strung on the ground."

The description of the explosion's aftermath conveys the human cost of Nobel's experimentation with explosives.

• Nobel demonstrated resourcefulness in circumventing regulations to continue his work.
• He began his company with limited capital, taking on multiple roles to ensure success.
• His personal involvement in all aspects of the business was critical in the early days.

"He found and bought a covered barge, which he anchored in the bay. Using primitive equipment, he manufactured what he's calling Nobel's patented explosive oil on board."

This quote shows Nobel's ingenuity in overcoming regulatory challenges to build his company, using a barge to manufacture explosives outside the jurisdiction of city laws.

"Alfred had less than $25,000 in working capital, and this forced him to do most things himself."

The quote indicates Nobel's financial constraints at the start of his business, which required him to be hands-on in every aspect of the company.

• Despite his financial success, Nobel's personal letters reveal a deep-seated melancholy.
• His wealth did not translate to happiness, and he struggled with a pessimistic outlook on life.
• Nobel's correspondence with his mistress Sophie highlights his loneliness and dissatisfaction.

"I am two steps ahead of my competitors, he writes, but the accumulation of money and praise leaves me totally indifferent."

Nobel's quote reveals his indifference to wealth and recognition, suggesting that his achievements did not bring him personal fulfillment.

"The bank draft Alfred signed was for $110,000."

This statement illustrates the vast amount of money Nobel was earning daily at the height of his success, yet it contrasts with his ongoing personal unhappiness.

• Nobel's letters show a man who was often negative and pessimistic, despite his optimism for the future.
• He believed in the power of education to limit corruption and improve society.
• Nobel's hopes for his inventions to bring about peace were ultimately a miscalculation.

"In Alfred's eyes, the guardians of law and order were ambitious and corruptible. Their authority had to be limited."

Nobel's mistrust of authority figures is evident in this quote, with an emphasis on education as a means to curb their power.

"I would like to invent a substance or a machine so frightfully effective and devastating that it would forever make wars altogether impossible."

Nobel's aspiration to create something so destructive that it would end all wars reflects a recurring theme among inventors, which often proves to be a misunderstanding of human nature.

• Nobel's letters to his mistress Sophie reveal a man struggling with personal connections.
• His complaints and negative outlook permeate his correspondence, suggesting a disconnect from others.
• Nobel's desire for meaningful relationships was hindered by his own behavior and attitude.

"I feel more lonely and abandoned every day."

This quote from Nobel to Sophie encapsulates his sense of isolation and dissatisfaction with his social life.

"There is nothing more repugnant on earth than uninvited guests."

Nobel's disdain for social obligations and preference for solitude is clear in this statement, highlighting his reclusive nature.

• Alfred Nobel was meticulous in his business dealings and protective of his patents.
• He established partnerships in various countries to produce dynamite under his patent.
• Nobel was cautious not to let others take advantage of him, especially financially.
• He rejected a proposal from Scottish financiers that attempted to place an embargo on his future patents unrelated to explosives.
• Nobel's declarations of independence were a recurring theme in his financial negotiations.
• He aimed to avoid becoming dependent on other people's money and refused bad business deals.
• Nobel prioritized control over his inventions and time over making more money.

The original proposal also contained a passage Alfred found unacceptable. This is in Scotland. The Scottish financiers wanted to place an embargo on Alfred's future patents that had nothing to do with explosives.

This quote emphasizes Nobel's unwillingness to compromise on terms that would limit his control over his future innovations, showcasing his desire for independence in his business ventures.

• Alfred Nobel experienced the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
• He dealt with depression and had to learn that business failures were sometimes inevitable.
• Nobel learned to steel himself against disappointments and not let them lead to inaction.
• He faced mental blocks as an inventor, contributing to his melancholy.
• Nobel felt he was aging prematurely and later in life showed signs of severe depression.
• He struggled with loneliness and the realization that he had few real friends.

Alfred learned to steel himself so that disappointments would not depress him into inaction. He thickened his skin to the fallout from each new accident.

The quote illustrates Nobel's coping mechanism in the face of business failures and personal challenges, highlighting his effort to remain resilient and active despite adversities.

• Alfred Nobel craved deep relationships despite being introverted and not particularly fond of most people.
• He regretted not maintaining friendships and became increasingly reclusive and depressed.
• Nobel's story serves as a lesson in the importance of prioritizing relationships over wealth.
• The common regret among older individuals is not making more time for friends and relationships.

Every year, the number declined in his calculations. He felt nothing but loneliness.

This quote reflects Nobel's internal assessment of his friendships and the growing sense of isolation he felt as he aged, underscoring the emotional toll of his reclusiveness.

• Nobel gave strategic business advice to his brother Ludwig, who ran a large oil company.
• He advised Ludwig on hiring decisions and to make peace with powerful competitors like the Rothschilds and Standard Oil.
• Nobel emphasized the importance of delegation, advising against micromanagement.
• He recognized the value of partnering with those who had strengths he lacked.

Never do yourself what others could do better or equally well.

This quote captures Nobel's advice on the efficiency of delegation and the importance of recognizing one's limitations, highlighting a principle that contributed to his and his brother's business success.

• Alfred Nobel's motivation for the Nobel Peace Prize stemmed from reading his own mistaken obituary.
• The obituary labeled him a "merchant of death," which deeply affected him.
• Nobel rewrote his will, dedicating most of his fortune to the Nobel Peace Prize, aiming to improve his posthumous reputation.
• The prize was established to honor contributions to peace, science, and literature, irrespective of background.

The obituary characterized Alfred as a merchant of death who had built a fortune by discovering new ways to mutilate and kill.

This quote highlights the negative perception of Nobel's work as portrayed in his mistaken obituary, which profoundly influenced his decision to establish the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Nobel believed in fully committing to one's endeavors and had a strong sense of duty.
• Despite his desire for a quieter life focused on scientific experiments, Nobel continued to be involved in his businesses until his death.
• Nobel's wealth did not contribute to his personal happiness, and he preferred a simpler lifestyle.
• His personal letters reveal a man who struggled with the stresses of business and longed for peace.

I am too much of a philosopher to think of anything as truly all important.

This quote reflects Nobel's philosophical outlook on life, indicating a perspective that values balance and commitment to one's duties, while also recognizing the limits of their importance.

• Nobel's experience with his mistress posthumously threatening to publish his letters for money underscores the need for personal defense.
• The incident serves as a reminder to protect oneself against potential exploitation by others.
• Nobel's legacy teaches the importance of having a good defense in managing one's finances and personal affairs.

If she did not get more money, she would publish the more than 200 letters that Alfred had written to her.

This quote demonstrates the vulnerability that comes with success and the need to safeguard against those who may seek to take advantage of one's achievements or personal matters.

• Nobel's eulogy emphasized his humanity over his achievements and wealth.
• He was remembered as a sensitive and introspective individual who sought more than material success.
• Nobel's insistence on awarding the Nobel prizes without discrimination reflects his humanist values.
• His legacy continues through the annual Nobel prizes, which celebrate human achievement and progress.

Nobel had a soul of fire. He worked hard, burned with ideas, and spurred his collaborators on with contagious energy.

This quote captures the essence of Nobel's passionate and driven nature, as well as his ability to inspire those around him, providing insight into the personality behind his enduring legacy.