Numerous readers have pointed out the similarity between my line of argument

in today’s piece and certain currents of Chinese philosophy. The Taoist

notion of “wu-wei,” for example (something like “attentive inaction”). “By

means of wu-wei, everything can be accomplished,” say the Taoists. (For my

take on Taoism, see here)

I would actually prefer that readers draw comparisons with page 359 of

Prime Obsession (after first buying a copy, of course), where I quote the

great French mathematician Jacques Hadamard on mathematics and its

real-world applications: “The answer appears to us before the question…

Practical application is found by not looking for it, and one can say that

the whole progress of civilization rests on that principle…” Best quote

in the book.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall go back to what I was doing before:

not-writing.