Post #1823416

2026-04-25 22:55 UTC

“There is no scorn more profound, or on the whole more justifiable, than that of the men who make for the men who explain. Exposition, criticism, appreciation, is work for second-rate minds.” – G. H. Hardy, /A Mathematician's Apology/ Thanks a lot, Professor Hardy. If it’s any consolation to you in Purgatory, my ability to explain has gone weird, so your top-tier descendants won’t need to kick me around as much as in past decades.

Replies (1)

@the_roamer@mastodonapp.uk 2026-04-30 23:03

@marick@mstdn.social A beautiful and melancoly book. I have read it many, many times. It tells us so much about the way this one mathematician thought about his work and about the source of his creativity. A very narrow view, poetically expressed. A false view when stated as a general insight. Also a sad illustration of the harm done to creative minds by the competitive Oxbridge system at the time. This whole world now lies so far behind us, doesn't it. I guess it ended in the 1930s. Hardy's statement is wrong and harmful, but God has forgiven him, and she has placed him amongst her Angels and Archangels, where he helps them prove heavenly theorems. :-) Littlewood mentions an endearing story about Hardy. Hardy was a meticulous proofreader who never missed any errors. Once when he received the proof of one of his own papers from the printers, he did overlook one typo. What had he missed? A mis-spelling of his own name in the reference list! #GHHardy

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