Page 48 - Neutrons for Sciences and Society

Neutrons for Science
was unable to suppress completely the great sorrow he suffered on the death of his wife. This did not prevent him fulfilling his duties as Director of the ILL to the end. A new era began for him after his departure in January 1972. It became difficult for him
to return to live in Munich, so he accepted the Presidency of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), which is somewhat like a German CNRS, but where the president has much greater powers. He was elected a foreign associate member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1978.
The personality of M.L.
M.L. certainly had a strong and complex personality. I think
one gets a good idea of this from his replies to a questionnaire published by Paul Kienle on the occasion of his eightieth birthday which I include below41:
What is your biggest misfortune?
Not to be there for someone.
Where would you like to live?
Near people, close to a library.
What is for you the greatest happiness on earth?
To be able to be alone, not to be alone.
What are the mistakes you forgive most easily?
Those not made for personal gain or contempt of others.
Your favourite fictional hero?
I don’t know.
Who is your favourite historical figure?
Socrates.
41 Following a French translation by Marie-Eve Meyer..
39