Everybody, all politicians on Left and Right, agree that meritocracy is a great thing, and we should all be trying to make our societies really, really meritocratic. In other words -- what is a meritocratic society? A meritocratic society is one in which, if you've got talent and energy and skill, you will get to the top, nothing should hold you back. It's a beautiful idea.
The most powerful thing about the internet is its ability to connect people.
"The reason death sticks so closely to life isn't biological necessity—it's envy. Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can."
The Langlands program is a challenge to the boundaries of mathematical knowledge.
The human being is a most curious creature. He thinks he has got one soul, and he has got dozens.