7 ms·

Mathematician Paul Erdős famously spent 19 hours a day doing math Mathematician Paul Erdős famously took amphetamines regularly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Mathematician Paul Erdős famously spent 19 hours a day doing math Mathematician Paul Erdős famously took amphetamines regularly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s "Ron Graham bet him $500 that he could not stop taking the drug for a month. Erdős won the bet, but complained that during his abstinence mathematics had been set back by a month: 'Before, when I looked at a piece of blank paper my mind was filled with ideas. Now all I see is a blank piece of paper.' After he won the bet, he promptly resumed his amphetamine use."

frozenport 14y ago
?
- elliott99 14y ago
  what is confusing? This quote is awesome.
  - rizzom5000 14y ago
    Well, it may be confusing to some that one of the most, if not the most, prolific mathematicians of modern times accepted, and even embraced, what would be in modern times, the use of a substance that would make said prolific mathematician a felon (at least in the US). Also, Wikipedia, while generally good, is likely not good to use a definitive source.
    - jhales 14y ago
      This is well accepted. Also,Erdos was and is far from alone in this.
    - raverbashing 14y ago
      Wow, a felon? Millions of americans take amphetamines or similar substances every day legally, by the name of Ritalin, Adderall and others.
    - xtqctz 14y ago
      Nature published an informal survey several years ago on amphetamine use among its readership. Perhaps you'll find it interesting: http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080409/full/452674a.html http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080409/full/452674a.html
  - frozenport 14y ago
    Its not clear how your awesome quote relates to the article.
    - irollboozers 14y ago
      It explains how even the academics seen as superhuman still couldn't do what the scientific community expects of the average grad student today, without having to use some extreme measure.
    - elliott99 14y ago
      Protip frozenport: Don't take HN too seriously.
wslh 14y ago
This is not the main point of the article and there are more examples of scientists spending a lot of time working and not taking amphetamines.
- robbiep 14y ago
  It's a great piece of chat none-the less

frozenport 14y ago

elliott99 14y ago
what is confusing? This quote is awesome.
- rizzom5000 14y ago
  Well, it may be confusing to some that one of the most, if not the most, prolific mathematicians of modern times accepted, and even embraced, what would be in modern times, the use of a substance that would make said prolific mathematician a felon (at least in the US). Also, Wikipedia, while generally good, is likely not good to use a definitive source.
  - jhales 14y ago
    This is well accepted. Also,Erdos was and is far from alone in this.
  - raverbashing 14y ago
    Wow, a felon? Millions of americans take amphetamines or similar substances every day legally, by the name of Ritalin, Adderall and others.
  - xtqctz 14y ago
    Nature published an informal survey several years ago on amphetamine use among its readership. Perhaps you'll find it interesting: http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080409/full/452674a.html http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080409/full/452674a.html
- frozenport 14y ago
  Its not clear how your awesome quote relates to the article.
  - irollboozers 14y ago
    It explains how even the academics seen as superhuman still couldn't do what the scientific community expects of the average grad student today, without having to use some extreme measure.
  - elliott99 14y ago
    Protip frozenport: Don't take HN too seriously.

wslh 14y ago

This is not the main point of the article and there are more examples of scientists spending a lot of time working and not taking amphetamines.

robbiep 14y ago
It's a great piece of chat none-the less