Speech for the Sorbonne, delivered before the Sorbonne at Paris, France (June 21, 1952)

Transcription

"Speech for the Sorbonne"

M. President, Messieurs les Professeurs, Amis et Amies,

It is a touching honor which the Sorbonne has accorded me. Since my youth I have venerated the antiquity of the Sorbonne and admired its mighty achievements and far-reaching influence for freedom of thought. As I stand before you, I sense the spiritual aura of Madame Curie and other great thinkers and scientists who have flashed light into the mental night of mankind.

I cannot help feeling that the honor you have conferred upon me is not due to any accomplished of mine, but is rather for the encouragement of the blind -- and the deaf too -- whom I represent. In behalf of the blind of the world I thank you from my heart for so generously recognizing the upward-looking spirit and the efforts of all who refuse to succumb to limitations.

In our small way we the blind are as indebted to Louis Braille as mankind is to Gutenberg. It is true that the dot system is quite unlike ordinary print, but the raised letters under our fingers are precious pods from which has sprouted our intellectual wealth. Without a dot system what a chaotic, inadequate affair our education would be! The brazen gates of frustration would shut us out from intold (sic) treasures of the world's literature, philosophy and science. But Louis Braille's magic wand of six dots has conjured up for us schools where embossed books bear us as on ships to the ports of education, libraries and all facilities of writing that assure our independence.

Now behold, the strength of solidarity is being built up among the blind in all lands, and through international Braille they weave words of kinship with each other and with humanity! This is a celebration of all the years in which the blind have banished darkness with the inner light of knowledge, and they ask only that where their capabilities have been proved they may be permitted to participate more fully in the activities of their seeing fellowmen.

You have displayed a benevolent interest in large neighborhoods of men. Eminently you represent France, which is a leader in works of light. Since Louis Braille was born in that country, and labored for that beautiful heritage, what more fitting memorial to him can consecrate than by carrying yet further the Christian ideal of service through your friendly cooperation that will enable them to climb triumphantly to the high places of achievement and self-fulfillment?

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