"To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is ... the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. It prolongs life itself and enlarges the sphere of existence." -- John Quincy Adams (b. 1767-07-11, d. 1848-02-23; President of the United States of America 1825-03-04 to 1829-03-03), Report on the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution (c. 1846) [via Wikiquote]