What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
“It is quite some time ago now that it was given to me. In my recollection it was in the spring of 1973. My present wife, who was my girl-friend at the time, spoke the historic words: “If I were you, I would marry me!” Well, I did! Suddenly I am having some doubts now. Or did she say: “I would marry you?!” However it may be, I have not regretted it for a single day so far.”

What is the most pleasant place for you?
“The living-room in our house is like a biotope for me. It has works of art that we like, the chairs are easy chairs from the beginning of the 20th century providing the comfort of the best seats available today. Colorful, cozy, the room being constantly at a temperature that we use for wine when we say that it is nicely ‘chambré’. My own library, my own exquisite kitchen environment. We have made sure that both mind and body can sojourn in pleasant circumstances. While all of this may sound terribly materialistic, a healthy mind in a warm environment is a vital condition of life for me.”

In whose boots would you like to be for a day?
“Suppose I was in God’s shoes for a bit, for no more than a very brief moment, and suppose that he were human for a second or so …. My goodness, I think that so much would be changed for the good in no time.”

Who at TU/e deserves a pat on the back and why?
“That is a special question, so short before my departure from TU/e, after almost 33 years! I shall put it in my pipe and smoke it for a bit from now on. Drop by on June 30 next, when I take my leave, and I promise that I shall announce this for everybody to hear. So who knows until then!?” (HB)