Andrew Wiles

I think the most important thing is to have a problem that you really care about, that you're passionate about.

Sometimes you just have to put the problem aside and let your subconscious work on it.

The feeling of finally solving a problem is like a huge weight being lifted off your shoulders.

I'm not sure I'd recommend spending seven years in an attic working on one problem to anyone.

The world of mathematics is full of beautiful ideas, and it's a privilege to explore them.

It's a very solitary pursuit, mathematics. You spend a lot of time alone with your thoughts.

You have to be prepared to make mistakes. Lots of them.

I think it's important to have a sense of humor, especially when you're working on something as difficult as Fermat's Last Theorem.

The most exciting part of mathematics is when you discover something new, something that no one has ever seen before.

It's a bit like climbing a mountain. You don't know if you're going to reach the top, but you keep going anyway.

I'm just a mathematician, trying to understand the world through numbers.

The history of mathematics is full of people who thought they had solved Fermat's Last Theorem, only to find out they were wrong.

You have to be a bit obsessive to do mathematics at this level.

The feeling of intellectual triumph is incredibly rewarding.

It's not about being a genius, it's about hard work and dedication.

I think the best way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.

The journey is often more important than the destination.

I'm not sure what I'll do next. Maybe I'll take up gardening.

The problem was so beautiful, it just drew me in.

It's a bit like being a detective, trying to piece together clues.