Thinking must never submit itself,
neither to a dogma,
nor to a party,
nor to a passion,
nor to an interest,
nor to a preconceived idea,
nor to anything whatsoever,
except to the facts themselves,
because for it to submit to anything else would be the end of its existence.
- Henri Poincaré, 1909 -
“HENRI - It is a name that self relativates, that questions itself. Moi? J’Henri depuis que je suis né.
I have always tried to honour the famous quote by Henri Poincaré. To such extent that in 1967 (if I remember correctly) I refused to sign the principles, which at the time was a prerequisite for obtaining membership of BSG (Brussels Studentengenootschap, the general student organisation). I argued that by signing the principle, you are de facto in contradiction with its meaning. I was promptly handed my membership card, without the required signature.”
Henri Vandenberghe
Henri Vandenberghe, affectionately known as RIEke is a VUB alumnus and has been the managing director of the Brussels’ BROSELLA Folk & Jazz festival for 40 years.