He'd met other prodigies in mathematical competitions. In fact he'd been thoroughly trounced by competitors who probably spent literally all day practising maths problems and who'd never read a science-fiction book and who would burn out completely before puberty and never amount to anything in their future lives because they'd just practised known techniques instead of learning to think creatively.

After all, if you had the complete decision process, you could run it as an AI, and I'd be coding it up right now.

Remember, if you succeed in everything you try in life, you're living below your full potential and you should take up more difficult or daring things.

I don't want to rule the universe. I just think it could be more sensibly organised.

If you want to maximize your expected utility, you try to save the world and the future of intergalactic civilization instead of donating your money to the society for curing rare diseases and cute puppies.

If cryonics were a scam it would have far better marketing and be far more popular.

The people I know who seem to make unusual efforts at rationality, are unusually honest, or, failing that, at least have unusually bad social skills.