Michael Wise

“Von Neumann gave me an interesting idea: that you don’t have to be responsible for the world that you’re in. So I have developed a very powerful sense of social irresponsibility as a result of Von Neumann’s advice. It’s made me a very happy man ever since. But it was Von Neumann who put the seed in that grew into my active irresponsibility!”
― Richard Feynman, "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character

“Oh," I thought, "without a doubt, everything in my life is falling to pieces. Nothing that my hand grasps can my hand hold.”
― André Gide, The Immoralist

“I had forgotten I was alone; I sat there, waiting for nothing, oblivious to the time.”
― André Gide, The Immoralist

“Successful people have no fear of failure. But unsuccessful people do. Successful people have the resilience to face up to failure—learn the lessons and adapt from it.”
― Roy T. Bennett