HELMHOLTZ IN BERLIN 



to me to connect my name with this medal, which 

 will stamp the progress of science in future times. 

 Science, to modern humanity, proclaims peace. The 

 scientific man does not work for his own welfare, but 

 for that of his nation, and for the whole of humanity, 

 especially for those who are sufficiently educated to 

 enjoy the fruits of science. You desire to associate 

 my name with this medal, and to hold me up to 

 coming generations as an example of an investigator. 

 I waver between a feeling of joy and a feeling of grave 

 responsibility. I have a proud joy that the result of 

 my thoughts is to work on to future generations far 

 beyond my individual life. You will also understand 

 that as a father cares for his offspring, and endeavours 

 to help them, so I have also a love for the children of 

 my thoughts. These contain the best of my convic- 

 tions ; I lay upon them the utmost stress ; and I 

 rejoice if the further development of science is to be 

 in their direction. But the doubt may arise, whether 

 my own ideals are not too narrow, and my principles 

 sometimes too imperfect, for the wants of humanity 

 in all time. If so, I hope the awarders of this medal 

 in the future will not confine themselves to what I 

 have accomplished ; but I should like to wave on 

 high the one banner on which are inscribed the 

 words, that the purpose of science is to comprehend 

 reality and the play of phenomena as regulated by 

 law.' 



On the occasion of his seventieth birthday, his eye 

 281 



