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Abel was done by poverty, Galois by stupidity. In all the
history of science there is no completer example of the triumph of
crass stupidity over untamable genius than is afforded by the all too
brief life of Évariste Galois. The record of his misfortunes
might well stand as a sinister monument to all self-assured pedagogues,
unscrupulous politicians, and conceited academicians. Galois was no
"ineffectual angel", but even his magnificent powers were shattered
before the massed stupidity aligned against him, and he beat his life
out fighting one unconquerable fool after another.
E.T. Bell, Genius and Stupidity
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