Permanent creations like geometrical theorems exceed ordinary human powers

Evidence

What we do may be small, but it has a certain character of permanence; and to have produced anything of the slightest permanent interest, whether it be a copy of verses or a geometrical theorem, is to have done something utterly beyond the powers of the vast majority of men. — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 153

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes his pairing of mathematics with literature and music in earlier chapters; the permanence argument recurs throughout. — connects to: Mathematical work is valuable as a memorial in the same way art is — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 294; Mathematics is among the most specialized of human talents. — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 140; Mathematics spans from before Pythagoras to beyond Einstein — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 154 (+4 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 153

Library Connections

• Physical reality fails to match common sense, while mathematical reality does not #complicates (0.50) — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 262

Broader Connections

• Iterated distillation and amplification can build judgment beyond our own #contradicts (0.85) — Brian Christian, The Alignment Problem, 1069
• Self-imitation can bootstrap a machine to superhuman skill #contradicts (0.85) — Brian Christian, The Alignment Problem, 1057
• Mathematics spans from before Pythagoras to beyond Einstein #expands (0.60) — G. H. Hardy, A Mathematician’s Apology, 154
• Deductive proof must rely on circular reasoning or endless chains #qualifies (0.50) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 963