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From his "about" page on his MathOverflow profile: "Mathematics is a process of staring hard enough with enough perseverence at at the fog of muddle and confus
by impendia 14y ago
From his "about" page on his MathOverflow profile:
"Mathematics is a process of staring hard enough with enough perseverence at at the fog of muddle and confusion to eventually break through to improved clarity. I'm happy when I can admit, at least to myself, that my thinking is muddled, and I try to overcome the embarassment that I might reveal ignorance or confusion. Over the years, this has helped me develop clarity in some things, but I remain muddled in many others. I enjoy questions that seem honest, even when they admit or reveal confusion, in preference to questions that appear designed to project sophistication."
Such beautiful modesty from a brilliant mathematician who inspired many.
[1] http://mathoverflow.net/users/9062/bill-thurston http://mathoverflow.net/users/9062/bill-thurston
- minikomi 14y agoHis answers are really fantastic reading. http://mathoverflow.net/questions/43690/whats-a-mathematician-to-do/44213#44213 http://mathoverflow.net/questions/43690/whats-a-mathematicia... What a sad thing, to have such a person leave us.
- Radim 14y agoI like the embarrassing arguments from MathOverflow moderators re. not closing Mr. Thurston's (vague, subjective, "not a question") question on MathOverflow. Nicely put by Georges Elencwajg in one of the comments: ...posed by somebody else, this question would have been closed within a picosecond. The rationale, ironically, being that professional mathematicians of quality would flee this site in droves because the question is "discussiony", "vague", "has no right answer", etc. This is the Matthew effect in all its glory: "For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away" (Matthew 25:29) Needless to say, I'm euphoric at the thought of Bill's participation in MathOverflow.