I completely disagree with Descartes, Pascal and Kant about the existence of God. I think their conclusions that God exists were a desperate resort to wishful thinking. And yet they gave more to my atheism than anyone who came after them denying the existence of God. They gave me an example of intellectual courage and a method of systematic doubt.
Courage is always beautiful
and courage in the face of overwhelming odds – doubly so.
That is why there is such an acute, poignant beauty in realism.
Seeing things as they are
and nevertheless
making choices based on who you want to be –
what can be more brave,
more beautiful,
more pointless?
The Museum of Natural History.
A monument to Darwin and a memorial to intellectual courage.
To those few who really did not want to make a fuss,
but also could not live with themselves
without stating: “E pur si muove!”
To those, to whom we owe our freedom.
Thank you.
