2004 : WHAT'S YOUR LAW?
Editor (Emeritus), Nature; Royal Commissions on environmental pollution and genetic manipulation
Maddox's Law
Maddox's First Law
Those who scorn the "publish or perish" principle are the most eager to see their own manuscripts published quickly and given wide publicity—and the least willing to see their length reduced.
Maddox's Second Law
Reviewers who are best placed to understand an author's work are the least likely to draw attention to its achievements, but are prolific sources of minor criticism, especially the identification of typos.
Maddox's Third Law
Just as nature is supposed to abhor a vacuum, so scientific opinion abhors questions unlikely to be answered soon, whence the general belief that the origin of the Universe is now nearly understood.
