Do you know how the Nobel prize started? It was the dream of a dead man.
"The whole of my remaining realizable estate
shall be dealt with in the following way: the capital, invested
in safe securities by my executors, shall constitute a fund, the
interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of
prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have
conferred the greatest benefit on mankind. The said interest
shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be
apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have
made the most important discovery or invention within the field
of physics; one part to the person who shall have made the most
important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the
person who shall have made the most important discovery within
the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person who
shall have produced in the field of literature the most
outstanding work in an ideal direction; and one part to the
person who shall have done the most or the best work for
fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of
standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace
congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded
by the Swedish Academy of Sciences; that for physiology or
medical works by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm; that for
literature by the Academy in Stockholm, and that for champions of
peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the
Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the
prizes no consideration be given to the nationality of the
candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize,
whether he be Scandinavian or not."
- From here.
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