Once I even took the train to Utrecht forty miles from Amsterdam with my yellow star this star which I still have. Why did I go? I just wanted to visit some friends. I was a little bit crazy a little bit insane.

The rule of the game was never assume that anybody however honorable would be able to stand up under torture. If Mr. X who knew where I was was caught for some reason I should move.

I spent every night until four in the morning on my dissertation until I came to the point when I could not write another word not even the next letter. I went to bed. Eight oclock the next morning I was up writing again.

One of the things I learned one of the strangest things is how to think. There was nothing else to do. I couldnt see people or go for a walk in the forest. All I had was my head and my books and I thought a lot.

Of course relative citation frequencies are no measure of relative importance. Who has not aspired to write a paper so fundamental that very soon it is known to everyone and cited by no one?

One of the absolute rules I learned in the war was dont know anything you dont need to know because if you ever get caught they will get it out of you.