Цветы для Элджернона

           I’velearnedhowlittletheygetapersoninthisworld.

           "You’vebecomecynical,"saidNemur."That’sallthisopportunityhasmeanttoyou.Yourgeniushasdestroyedyourfaithintheworldandinyourfellowmen."

           "That’snotcompletelytrue,"Isaidsoftly."ButI’velearnedthatintelligencealonedoesn’tmeanadamnedthing.Hereinyouruniversity,intelligence,education,knowledge,haveallbecomegreatidols.ButIknownowthere’sonethingyou’vealloverlooked:intelligenceanded­ucationthathasn’tbeentemperedbyhumanaffectionisn’tworthadamn."

           Ihelpedmyselftoanothermartinifromthenearbysideboardandcontinuedmysermon.

           "Don’tmisunderstandme,"Isaid."Intelligenceisoneofthegreatesthumangifts.Butalltoooftenasearchforknowledgedrivesoutthesearchforlove.ThisissomethingelseI’vediscoveredformyselfveryrecently.Ipresentittoyouasahypothesis:Intelligencewithouttheabilitytogiveandreceiveaffectionleadstomentalandmoralbreak­down,toneurosis,andpossiblyevenpsychosis.AndIsaythatthemindabsorbedinandinvolvedinitselfasaself-centeredend,totheexclusionofhumanrelationships,canonlyleadtoviolenceandpain.

           "WhenIwasretardedIhadlotsoffriends.NowIhavenoone.Oh,Iknowlotsofpeople.Lotsandlotsofpeople.ButIdon’thaveanyrealfriends.NotlikeIusedtohaveinthebakery.Notafriendintheworldwhomeansanythingtome,andnooneImeananythingto."