That is the paradox of the epidemic: that in order to create one contagious movement, you often have to create many small movements first.

We sometimes think of being good at mathematics as an innate ability. You either have "it" or you don't. But to Schoenfeld, it's not so much ability as attitude. You master mathematics if you are willing to try.

I became convinced that knowing lots of people was kind of skill, something that the diligent can overcome.

Achievement is talent plus preparation. The problem with this view is that the closer psychologists look at the careers of the gifted, the smaller the role innate talent seems to play and the bigger the role preparation seems to play.

Where they come from matters. They're products of particular places and environments.

I would say first of all, anyone who wants to challenge the status quo always gets that response. Ninety percent of the time, that's just bull. That's just the way in which people choose to prop up their own privilege or their own particular position. So mostly I shrug it off.

There are lots of issues more important than where billionaires donate their money.