The Sad Truth Of The Nobel Prize..!

Sometimes it's easy to make a mistake with the cause of what makes a person famous. Often times it's the back story that tells the whole truth. Here is a case in point...

Alfred Nobel And Ludvig Nobel

Photo credit: nobelprize.org

Alfred Bernhard Nobel is remembered as the founder of the Nobel Prize, which includes the famous Nobel Peace Prize. Ironically, he is also the inventor of dynamite, a deadly explosive used for variety of purposes, including warfare.

To be fair, Alfred Nobel invented dynamite for use in mining, demolition, and construction and not as a weapon. Nevertheless, the military found other purposes for the deadly explosive and Alfred never openly supported nor condemned its use in warfare.

Alfred Nobel rethought his invention when Ludvig, his brother, died in 1888. Newspapers erroneously published Alfred’s obituary and accused him of becoming wealthy by killing people. One newspaper even announced his death with the headline “The Merchant of Death is Dead.” This devastated Nobel.

Wanting to repair his name, he willed a huge chunk of his wealth to create the Nobel Prizes.

Like I said, we shouldn't judge until we know the whole story.

Coffee out on the patio again.