"And, of course, who gets to judge? Who would we want to judge? Well, the little five-year-old girl in Las Meninas is giving us the most mischievous and heart-felt smile. A smile that speaks of respect and love, but also self-confidence born of the strength that emanates from the center of her attention (the royal couple, perhaps, or we, who stand in their place). Maybe it would all be worth it if our scientific `children', our students and trainees, were to look at us that way. Maybe that would be something worth striving for."
