Britannica
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Who voluntarily refused a Nobel Prize?
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Nobel Prize
The obverse side of the Nobel Prize medals for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature.
Only two individuals have voluntarily refused a Nobel Prize.12
- Jean-Paul Sartre: The French philosopher declined the 1964 Nobel Prize in Literature, consistent with his policy of refusing all official honors.12
- Le Duc Tho: The Vietnamese politician was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize alongside Henry Kissinger for their efforts to negotiate a cease-fire in the Vietnam War. Tho declined the award, stating that "peace has not yet been established."132
While other individuals have been forced to decline the prize due to political pressure or government mandates—such as Richard Kuhn, Adolf Butenandt, Gerhard Domagk, and Boris Pasternak—these instances were involuntary.12