Why spend money on science?

[sawyl]

Via SciAm, I've discovered what might just be the greatest science quote ever. When asked why the US government should spend money on a particle accelerator without any strategic value Robert R. Wilson replied:

It has only to do with the respect with which we regard one another, the dignity of man, our love of culture. It has to do with: Are we good painters, good sculptors, great poets? I mean all the things we really venerate in our country and are patriotic about. It has nothing to do directly with defending our country except to make it worth defending.

Amen.