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Can someone explain why Mano's job description prompted this response from Feynman? I don't know enough to understand what this problem is, or why Feynman thinks any person solving it would be sad.

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Feynman was sad that Mano seemed to have a low view of himself. He had described his work as trying to solve a “humble and down-to-earth type of problem” — in contrast to the supposedly more majestic problems that he had seen Feynman solve.

I’m thinking Feynman is a bit high on himself. He assumes that someone who states that his own work is “humble and down-to-earth” has a low view of yourself.

Some Michelin Star chef might ask me what I had for dinner, I’d reply “burgers!”, they’d go “don’t be sad”.

I’d go, “eff you, I didn’t say I don’t like burgers! I love burgers!”

Isn’t it Mano’s self-description as “a nameless man” that Feynman is objecting to?

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