Jacob Bronowski died today – 34 years ago

Mathematician, biologist, and author (of the TV series The Ascent of Man) Jacob Bronowski was born on January 18, 1908 in Łódź, Congress Poland. He said, “You will die but the carbon will not; its career does not end with you. It will return to the soil, and there a plant may take it up again in time, sending it once more on a cycle of plant and animal life.” [Does that make you want to be a carbon atom?]... Mr. Bronowski died on August 22, 1974 in East Hampton, New York.

Kate Chopin died today – 103 years ago

U.S. writer Kate Chopin was born as Katherine O'Flaherty on February 8, 1850 in St. Louis, Missouri. She said, “He greatly valued his possessions, chiefly because they were his, and derived genuine pleasure from contemplating a painting, a statuette, a rare lace curtain - no matter what - after he had bought it and placed it among his household gods." [Oh, the worshipping.]... Ms. Chopin died in 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri.

British Prime Minister Robert Cecil was born as Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil on February 3, 1830 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. He said, “A wise man looks upon men as he does on horses; all their comparisons of title, wealth, and place, he consider but as harness." [Just something added to the basics.]... Mr. Cecil died in 1903 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England.

Polish-English mathematician Jacob Bronowski was born on January 18, 1908 in Łódź, Congress Poland, Russian Empire. He said, “Has there ever been a society which has died of dissent? Several have died of conformity in our lifetime." [It depends on how that dissent is expressed.]... Mr. Bronowski died in 1974 in East Hampton, New York.