Words of Albert Schweitze -OSI

Although I am a scientist and I appreciate Einstein being chosen as Man of the Century, I feel that Albert Schweitzer would have been a more compelling choice. It is true that Einstein represents the science and technology that is taking us at a breathless pace into the new millenium. But just where is is taking us?Schweitzer's scholarship in medicine, music, and religion could easily have led him to a highly successful academic career at a university. But he did not choose this path. Rather, he put his knowledge of medicine to use at a primitive level by serving natives in a remote part of Africa. It was a courageous, soulworthy decision. For that reason it is worth learning everything we can about this man whose mind was capable of such unique comprehension and action.I am very grateful that Norman Cousins put his editorial skills to use in selecting words of Albert Schweitzer to pass on to us. Cousins is correct in the Introduction when he says "The greatness of Schweitzer rests not just on what he has done but on what other have done because of him."The words in the text are classified under six headings: Knowledge and Discovery, Reverence for Life, Faith, The Life of the Soul, The Musician as Artist, and Civilization and Peace. Also, an excerpt is given from Schweitzer's 1952 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.The quotations range from humorous to subline; from "An organ is like a cow; one does not look at its horns so much as at its milk," to "The history of our time is characterized by a lack of reason which has no parallel in the past." It is a fearsome accusation for a generation that prides itself on the good job it has done in harnessing reason to science. Schweitzer further reflects that "we have sought to live and to carry on with a civilization which has no ethical principle behind it."With the example of Schweitzer's life of dedication and service we can perhaps see a glimmering of the ethical principle that is missing in today's world. By living a life of sacrifice and service, his soul grows steadfastly without bound.

As printed in the Editor's Note, I first suggested the ides of this book to the publisher and corresponded with Norman Cousins. In l995 I wrote a multimedia musical dramatization called the "Words of Albert Schweitzer and the Music of Bach>" This acclaimed production is available to churches and universities. It was prsented March l at Syracuse University, New York. Thurston Moore