So this Russian guy, Grigory Perelman, apparently proved one of the most open and difficult math problems from the last one hundred years by solving the Poincare conjecture. A big deal in the world of mathematics, and perhaps in life in general, if I can ever figure out exactly what it means. But here's the thing. Perelman declined to accept the Fields Award, which is the highest medal in mathematics, which was offered to him in honor of his discovery. He explained, "I do not think anything I can say will be of the slightest public interest. I know that self-promotion happens a lot and if people want to do that, good luck to them, but I do not regard it as a positive thing."
Perelman believes that the discovery is more important than the discoverer, and that anything worth reading about the discovery is published in his calculations. He feels no need to be honored for it. And how does this make Perleman a Stone in the Pond? Humility. Clarity. Simplicity. May the world have more of it.
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