I should point out that I heard this cautionary tale as “don’t set your sights too high,” not “don’t employ the methods Einstein employed.” The methods were fine, the trouble was that he was at IAS and looking for something bigger than his previous work, rather than planting acorns that would grow into mighty oaks (as Hamming puts it).
I should point out that I heard this cautionary tale as “don’t set your sights too high,” not “don’t employ the methods Einstein employed.” The methods were fine, the trouble was that he was at IAS and looking for something bigger than his previous work, rather than planting acorns that would grow into mighty oaks (as Hamming puts it).