His refusal wasn't about humility but about retaining his freedom by not having to carry the weight of the Nobel Academy around. Being bestowed a prestigious h

His refusal wasn't about humility but about retaining his freedom by not having to carry the weight of the Nobel Academy around. Being bestowed a prestigious honour changes the man and the perception other people have of him. He didn't want that and he -like Feynman- would have preferred that the Nobel Academy had asked him if he wanted the prize at all before making any announcement.