> Proof is the essence of mathematics. Proof may be essential, but it is not the essence of mathematics. Like many things, the essence of mathematics is beauty

> Proof is the essence of mathematics. Proof may be essential, but it is not the essence of mathematics. Like many things, the essence of mathematics is beauty. In this mad world, of which academia is a part, we only seek to measure things. And how can you measure beauty? You cannot, or, at best, it is subjective. So, in place of beauty we have big complicated proofs, that no-one understands. John Conway, later on in life, decided to quit being a "real mathematician" and focus instead on trying to understand mathematics. His student Borcherds came up with a proof of Conway & Norton's moonshine conjecture, but Conway himself never accepted it. Why? Because it was too complicated, it couldn't possibly be the right explanation for moonshine. What a dude.