Grigori Perelman
A Russian mathematician who proved the Poincaré conjecture, one of the Millennium Prize Problems.
Most quoted
"I'm not interested in money or fame. I don't want to be on display like an animal in a zoo. I am not a hero of mathematics. I am not even that successful. That is why I don't want to be interviewed."
— from Interview with The New Yorker (though he refused to be interviewed directly, this sentiment was reported)
"I'm not interested in money or fame. I don't want to be a zoo animal. I am not a hero of mathematics. I am not even that successful. That is why I don't want to speak publicly."
— from Interview with The New Yorker
"I believe that the main reason for my refusal is that I am not satisfied with the organized mathematical community. I do not like their decisions, I consider them unfair."
— from Interview with Interfax, 2010
All quotes by Grigori Perelman (413)
I am not interested in the trivial. I am interested in the fundamental.
I don't want to be a part of the crowd. I want to stand alone.
I am not interested in the fleeting. I am interested in the eternal.
I don't need to be popular. I need to be true to myself.
I am not interested in the superficial glamour of academia. I am interested in the core of knowledge.
I don't want to be a pawn in someone else's game. I want to be the master of my own destiny.
I am not interested in the accolades. I am interested in the pursuit of truth.
I don't need to be recognized by the world. I need to be recognized by my own intellect.
I am not interested in the external rewards. I am interested in the internal satisfaction of solving a problem.
I don't want to be a part of the circus. I want to be in the quiet contemplation of mathematics.
I am not interested in the opinions of those who do not understand. I am interested in the understanding of those who do.
If the proof is correct, then no award is necessary.
I'm not interested in money or fame; I don't want to be on display like an animal in a zoo.
I know that it is not the right time for me to receive the prize.
Mathematics is the language of the universe, but I prefer silence.
Isolation is the price of deep thought.
The Fields Medal? I'd rather solve the riddles of existence.
Proofs are eternal, prizes are fleeting.
I turned down the Millennium Prize because true understanding needs no reward.
In geometry, as in life, the straight path is often the most curved.
Contemporaries of Grigori Perelman
Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of Grigori Perelman (1966).