As far as Grothendieck goes, I think he is simply channeling Buddhism’s concept of beginner’s mind.
I don’t have the experience that people who are serious about beginner’s mind speak of how other people in their age group are much more brilliant, much more “gifted”.
I don’t have the experience that people who are serious about beginner’s mind speak of how other people in their age group are much more brilliant, much more “gifted”.