It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that.
Interpretation
G. H. Hardy suggests that intelligent individuals should not conform to the majority, as their unique contributions and thoughts are more valuable.
The quote by G. H. Hardy emphasizes the idea that true intellectual engagement and valuable insights often come from those who think differently from the masses. By stating that it is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority, Hardy advocates for individuality and original thought, suggesting that the majority already has enough representation and that innovation and progress stem from those who dare to stand apart.
In practice
During a debate about societal norms, this quote can be used to promote individuality.
A chess problem is genuine mathematics, but it is in some way "trivial" mathematics. However, ingenious and intricate, however original and surprising the moves, there is something essential lacking. Chess problems are unimportant. The best mathematics is serious as well as beautiful-"important" if you like, but the word is very ambiguous, and "serious" expresses what I mean much better.
Mathematics is not a contemplative but a creative subject; no one can draw much consolation from it when he has lost the power or the desire to create; and that is apt to happen to a mathematician rather soon. It is a pity, but in that case he does not matter a great deal anyhow, and it would be silly to bother about him.
Exposition, criticism, appreciation, is work for second-rate minds.
It is hardly possible to maintain seriously that the evil done by science is not altogether outweighed by the good. For example, if ten million lives were lost in every war, the net effect of science would still have been to increase the average length of life.
Real mathematics must be justified as art if it can be justified at all.
If intellectual curiosity, professional pride, and ambition are the dominant incentives to research, then assuredly no one has a fairer chance of gratifying them than a mathematician.
The more I like me, the less I want to pretend to be other people.
I don't care what consequence it brings, I have been a fool for lesser things.
If you persist in trying to attain what is never attained (It is Tao's gift), if you persist in making effort to obtain what effort cannot get, if you persist in reasoning about what cannot be understood, you will be destroyed by the very thing you seek. To know when to stop, to know when you can get no further by your own action, this is the right beginning!
Would you really dig into yesterday's garbage to make tonight's meal? Do you dig into yesterday's mental garbage to create today's experiences?
Above all, discard the irrelevant.
Service brings merit, merit allows you to go deeper in meditation, meditation brings back your smile.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.