The foremost quality of scientific research is enjoyment: enjoyment in understanding. Research often starts with surprise and wonderment about things which one does not understand and which raise curiosity. The journey between the original moment of surprise and the ultimate satisfaction of understanding can be long. High points are discussions with other scientists, particularly collaborators, wherein ideas freely flow. This is a large part of the pleasure of understanding. In teaching, the greatest joy is to tell about these journeys, whether they are mine or of someone else. The title of his inaugural lecture was "Clinical Epidemiology and the Spirit of Hygienism".

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