"I loved every minute of it, however hard it had been"

He is Andrew Wiles,the mathematician. He is 70 now. He proved Fermat's Last Theorem.

me after doing the first assignment of calculus 1:

People like this are real celebrities.

The fact that he’s grateful for doing something great, realizing the magnitude of it, and being glad he experienced that in one’s only chance on this planet. That’s something wonderful.

Me when after countless attempts to pull the door, I finally realize there is a sign that says "push"

Idk who the hell this dude is but I’m so proud of him

Much needed context. I will try my hardest to simplify this: This story is about how one dude, Andrew Wiles (and a friend) managed to solve a proof "Fermat's Last Theorem" for x^n + y^n = z^n ; n>2 where no matter what you put in for n, the answer will NEVER EVER be whole numbers. THIS is his explanation of how he felt after he (and a friend) managed to solve this proof to PROVE that indeed any number greater than 2 for n will NEVER be a whole number. Andrew Wiles was working on a separate proof ("Taniyama-Shemura Conjecture") where through math stuff, if you prove this proof, you'll get the Fermat's Last Theorem proven as a freebee. It took Andrew 7 years working on this alone, until one day he figured it out, and published it for peer review. Thing is, Andrew made one small mistake, and was embarrassed as a result. So for another year after (now working with his friend), he managed to suddenly FIX the mistake he made, and also proving Taniyama-Shemura Conjecture! Thus through its mathematical relationship, he also proved that, indeed, Fermat's Last Theorem IS correct, and there is NO number you could put in n that'll give whole numbers as answers when n>2. With that being said: I think it's awe-inspiring what Andrew Wiles did. When you're working damn hard on something, slaving away, and it just beats you down for you to come and beat it...only for it to throw one final haymaker and knock you out...only for you to beat the count and stand up to dominate it. To me: This (romantically) taps in to something about humanity which I believe is utterly inspiring and beautiful. That we, all of us, just won't give up and despite the odds, still win. Andrew Wiles did it. He succeeded....and in a selfish way...we ALL succeed.

The most important moment of my “working life”. A good man who knows what’s important in life.

Look at how fulfilled he is. So beautiful. Wish everyone could feel a sliver of that happiness.

The emotion he conveys when describing his epiphany is breathtaking.

"Out of the ashes". Beautiful. How can you not be romantic about mathematics?

I notice that genuine geniuses speak very slowly, concisely and deliberately 👍

I can only dream of having this kind of love for something, a passion. That is what makes life truly enjoyable and the struggle a pleasure.

What makes me smile is how this was filmed in multiple locations, but he keeps the same level of joy when talking about this.

To be honest, this is how I felt when I got my high school diploma this year at age 41. Brilliantly said! I know my feat is not as impressive; i do feel content. I received a 1000.00 scholarship from it. Thank you for uploading this. It meant the world to me.

I love how humble he appears. The passion he exhibits reminds me of my relationship with my art. I was once an artist. Very rare indeed to realize your dreams. This was quite beautiful, thank you.

This man solved, with indescribable geniality, a process that was long thought to have no proof. Which is Fermat's Last Theorem. So many mathematicians who previously worked on it discouraged this man's work, but he was unshaken by this. It is hard to see a MATHEMATICIAN, of all people, getting emotional as he remembers it. The paper he published had errors that were challenged upon, but nevertheless he changed it and the answer still lied in Truth. Like Fermat or Gauss, he became one of the greatest mathematicians to have ever lived. And he still works to this day.

I love this man's desk organization. Truly awesome achievement (solving Fermat's Theorem... Not the desk).

I almost teared up when Wiles described his solving of the proof. When the "LIGHT" goes off in our heads, and we arrive at an answer or solution, we sometimes forget to acknowledge them properly. So glad he was captured on film for the world to see him recount his moment of success. :goat-turquoise-white-horns:

This is from a BBC documentary, and I can tell you as a former BBC employee this piece is highly thought of within the Corporation, in terms of the story itself, and the film’s format/execution. It’s a beautiful and moving film, from Horizon circa 1995, initially tx’d on BBC2 I believe. It’s marvelous.