Alfred Nobel was not a happy person. His many private
letters confirm the picture of a lonely, ascetic man in bad health, burdened
with work and hypochondria. He was a man of high morals,
often helpful but never showing off. He shunned high society, and
ridiculed vanity and outward fineries. Politically and in religious issues,
he was a radical. He considered himself a social democrat. He was
fluent in five languages and was often drastically outspoken. His relatives
remembered him as a warm-hearted uncle, generous, and
thoughtful in his choice of gifts. He appreciated a joke and enjoyed a
good meal. Sometimes he expressed envy at the harmonious family
life of his brothers.