FAREWELL LECTURE 275 



germ from the Bachtyari Hills; we all think of Oscar Baumann with 

 admiration. 



I rejoice today with all my heart that I am enabled to greet, not a 

 series of students, but generations of students, from the renowned 

 gray-haired members of the Royal Academy to the young fellows 

 with sharp eyes. 



To the young ones among you I should at this moment like to say 

 another word. The old ones know it already. In the course of these 

 forty-four years much has occurred on the earth, but nothing at this 

 time so penetrating, nothing so decisive for the entire culture of 

 humanity, as progress in the natural sciences. Into all departments 

 of human life and doings it has entered ; it influences and changes our 

 social conditions, our philosophical conclusions, our political economy, 

 the strength of states, everything. He who will look closer, however, 

 can perceive that, besides the natural sciences, the naturalist himself is 

 coming more and more to the front, that his social significance is being 

 recognized, and that the worth of his studies is being more valued. 



Accordingly, the growing generation of inquirers has an increased 

 duty, which consists in this, that the ethics of their personal life shall 

 become more precise, so that, by the increasing influence of naturalists 

 on all social and state life, the naturalist will also feel himself more 

 worthy to take part in the guidance of intellectual humanity. 



And now I have reached the comma. When I became a teacher, 

 I did not cease to be a student ; and now that I cease to be a teacher, I 

 shall not cease to be a student so long as my eyes see, my ears hear, 

 and my hands can grasp. With this wish, I therefore do not step 

 out, but take up my former position. 



And now I thank you all from the depths of my heart for your 

 presence, and beg of you to retain for me a friendly remembrance. 



