Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

P rince of A sturias A wards 1981-2014. S peeches 11 In this quarter century, and in the figures of our Laureates, we have had the chance to admire and highlight the power of intelligence, sacrifice and excellence. Moreover, the Foundation and our Awards have fostered generosity over self-interest, concord over division, peaceful coexistence over fanaticism, commitment over indifference. We want this message to be proclaimed with clarity, vigour and force to our youth in particular, so that they may grow in statute with these virtues, so that they may turn their back on potential despair and so that they may join the great adventure of life in peace, plenitude and responsibility with willingness. Our work started and developed because of the freedom and stability guaranteed under our Constitution. The Awards and the Foundation behind them combine in their history the same virtues that have guided the lives of the Spanish people over recent years: determination and caution, firm convictions, faith and trust in our common future. After twenty-five years, what most fills us with satisfaction is to see the most valuable of the many shows of support that our Foundation and Laureates could receive: the fact that the great majority of Spaniards consider them as a great Spanish cultural and moral heritage for the world at large. The Crown has encouraged the Foundation in its ongoing pursuit of culture. It is work in the service of Spain, in the service of our progress and our projection abroad as a great nation. This is the main reason that inspired HM The King in his support of the founding of our organization; alongside HM The Queen, he has given us this support at all times. Like our unforgettable Julián Marías, I now think that the most important thing is to look forward towards the future and believe in what we are doing. The Princess and I are happy to think that we will pass on to our children all the substance of these emotions and lessons, the emotive heritage of unforgettable memories. Because we want hope, the desire for a fairer world and the tireless quest for a mankind of free men and women to blossom in their hearts. Because, in short, we want them, like us, to also believe in the light just before the dawn. Thank you “The Crown has encouraged the Foundation in its ongoing pursuit of culture.”