"When,intheprocessofturningslowlyuponmyself,Itrytogainmomentum,anothing,aword,astory,apaper,avisitstopsmeandisabletoputofforretardforeverthemomentwhen,grantedasufficientswiftnessImighthave,inspiteofmysurroundings,concentratedonmyownintentionWemusteat,drink,sleep,beidle,love,touchthesweetestthingsoflifeandyetnotsuccumbtothem.Itisnecessarythat,indoingallthis,thehigherthoughtstowhichoneisdedicatedremaindominantandcontinuetheirunmovedcourseinourpoorheads.Itisnecessarytomakeadreamoflife,andtomakeofadreamareality."
Thisacuteanalysis,sufficientlysurprisinginayoungmanoftwentyyears,suggestsinanadmirablemannertheconditionsnecessarytothehighestmanifestationsoftheintellect.Itcarriesalessonwhich,ifitweresufficientlyunderstood,wouldfacilitatethewayofallcontemplativespiritscapableofopeningnewpathsforhumanity.
TheunityofthoughttowardwhichPierreCuriestrovewastroublednotonlybyprofessionalandsocialobligationsbutalsobyhistastes,whichurgedhimtowardsabroadliteraryandartisticculture.Likehisfather,helovedreading,anddidnotfeartoundertakearduousliterarytasks.Tosomecriticismmadeinthisconnection,herespondedreadily:"Idonotdisliketediousbooks."Thismeantthathewasfascinatedbythesearchaftertruthwhichissometimesassociatedwithwritingdevoidofcharm.Healsolovedpaintingandmusic,andwentgladlytolookatpicturesortoattendaconcert.Afewfragmentsofpoetryinhishandwritingwereleftamonghispapers.
Butallthesepreoccupationsweresubordinatedinhismindtowhatheconsideredhistruetask,andwhenhisscientificimaginationwasnotinfullactivity,hefelthimself,inasense,anincompletebeing.Heexpressedthisinquietudewithanemotionbornofhissufferingduringmomentaryperiodsofdepression."WhatshallIbecome?"hewrote."VeryrarelyhaveIcommandofallmyself;ordinarilyapartofmesleeps.Mypoorspirit,areyouthensoweakthatyoucannotcontrolmybody?Oh,mythoughts,youcountindeedforverylittle!Ishouldhavethegreatestconfidenceinthepowerofmyimaginationtopullmeoutoftherut,butIgreatlyfearthatmyimaginationisdead."
Butdespitehesitations,doubts,andlostmoments,theyoungmanwaslittlebylittlestrikingouthispathandstrengtheninghiswill.Hewasresolutelycarryingonfruitfulinvestigationsatanagewhenmanymenwhoweretobecomesavantswereasyetonlypupils.
Hisfirstwork,doneincollaborationwithDesains,concernedthedeterminationofthelengthsofheatwaveswiththeaidofathermo-electricelementandametallic-wiregrating,aprocess,thenentirelynew,whichhassinceoftenbeenemployedinthestudyofthisquestion.