Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

P rince of A sturias A wards 1981-2014. S peeches 9 have witnessed some of the most interesting research and discoveries in recent decades, the consequences of which are of high social value, as cern’s ultimate goal is knowledge and, in short, to improve the quality of human life. The same spirit which shone in the life and mind of Albert Einstein also underpins the excellent work carried out by cern. As he said, “We live in the world when we love, and only a life lived for others is worth living.” Spain’s Antonio Muñoz Molina has been distinguished with the Award for Literature. His prose is powerful and precise, while his outlook is melancholy, reminiscent of Cervantes. He also stands out for his distinctive sense of narrative pace. Reading Muñoz Molina is an unforgettable experience. With realism and descriptive power, he imbues his prose with the conviction that literature can better the lives of human beings; that literature shields us from so much malice and helps us enthusiastically confront everyday life, with all its longings and enigmas; that literature alleviates and rewards us, shelters and protects us. As his much admired Primo Levi wrote, “by living and then writing about and pondering these events, I have learned many things about the world.” And that kind of learning appears at every turn in Muñoz Molina’s books; in every sentence, with every character, in the wake of a passion for literature that courses through their pages. As stated by another great man of letters, the Portuguese writer Miguel Torga, “Giving without asking for anything in return is the only gift of the gods within the reach of humans.” That is the task Antonio Muñoz Molina has so generously and —I believe— inescapably devoted himself to: to bringing us all the greatness of his beloved Sierra Mágina, all his love for humankind and solidarity with the most downtrodden, alongside a feeling of gratitude for the sacrifices of our forebears and rage over our failures. All so human, yet magical at the same time. The Award for International Cooperation has gone to Germany’s Max Planck Society, which comprises anetworkof 80scientific research institutions andenjoys anextraordinaryreputation. Dozens of Nobel Laureates work and conduct research there and have done so throughout its history, as is also the case of some brilliant young Spanish scientists and our beloved Juan Cirac, who was distinguished here some years ago. As with other major scientific institutions, like cern, the activities carried out by the Max Planck Society always look to the future —so essential in scientific research— while remaining true to a tradition that has afforded it enormous international respect. The researchers at the Max Planck Society know they form part of a respected institution that boasts state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and, more importantly, a high degree of autonomy. Besides being extremely efficient, it is also selective, rigorous, demanding, flexible and right on the cutting edge. These are, without a doubt, the keys to the excellence and success of its scientific achievements; it is a mine of knowledge and progress. José María Olazábal has been granted the Award for Sports. Here this evening we recall with special emotion —as we know he does— Severiano Ballesteros. Ballesteros was a teammate, friend and teacher to Olazábal, who, on hearing the Jury’s decision, stated how proud he feels to join the roster of Laureates this evening, especially because his much respected and cherished Seve has featured on that same list since 1989. Olazábal’s sporting victories on major golf courses around the world had their high point in the 2012 Ryder Cup, when he captained the European team with an extraordinary capacity for motivation and leadership. These successes are the result of many years of effort and dreams, as well as —we know— a great deal of suffering, overcome thanks to a spirit of sacrifice and willpower that are part of the cumulus of human qualities we all recognize in him. Olazábal is, thus, a role model for the all-round athlete, whom we congratulate here today for “Spanish society is thus once again providing an example of maturity, responsibility and civic awareness that it is only right and proper to recognize in the highest degree.”