Comment by readthenotes1
2 days ago
"To have broken these bounds they would have to rediscover in themselves that capability which was their birthright, as it was mine: The capacity to be alone."
I know someone who believes he has solved all the remaining major math and physics challenges and submitted them for the various awards.
He is alone, too. His schizophrenia has isolated him pretty thoroughly.
Grothendieck ended up totally crazy too, unfortunately. Some people might be truthers that his final writings would be made sense of someday, but I don't think that is a responsible hope to carry.
The idea that Grothendieck both massively succeeded and failed in some sort of countercultural/neurodivergent knife edge is I think the ambiguous but correct morality tale.
The most gifted scientists are of one of two flavors, seemingly: Completely lucid and exuberant well into their elderly years, or strange and secluded even in their better years.