Edward Teller and John von Neumann

When the renowned nuclear physicist, Dr. Edward Teller, won the Hungarian National mathematics award, the Eötvös Prize, his test scores did not quite match those of Prof. John von Neumann who had the record high test score a few years earlier. They were life-log acquaintances and colleagues. Some years later, both were in the United States and Dr. Teller was working on a difficult nuclear physics problem and he was stuck. He called Prof. von Neumann and asked him if he would be willing to help. Dr. Teller was a proud and prickly man, reputed to be slow to share credit with co-workers, so asking for help was not easy for him, but, after all, Prof. von Neumann was regarded by the community as the smartest man in the world.

The Professor readily agreed and came to see his old colleague. Soon enough they were making progress together, with the senior man asking very incisive questions and the junior responding and advancing the solution. As they happily worked away at a chalk board in Dr. Teller's house, a little sprite floated in the room carrying a handful of papers; it was Dr. Teller's granddaughter. "Poppa Edward, can you help me with my arithmetic problems?" the ten-year-old asked. "Of course.", replied the proud grandfather. But Prof. von Neumann said: "No, no, Edward. You keep working the problem and I'll help our little princess out here.".

Dr. Teller relates how his guest got down on the floor with the little girl and soon had her making amazing progress. He had not only come down to her physical level on the floor, he had descended from an indescribably high level of abstract mathematical analysis to fourth-grade arithmetic. Dr. Teller recalls how amazed he was at his colleagues ability, not only to lead the little one, but to do so in a way that allowed her to see the more meaningful processes and approaches, not just follow some seemingly arbitrary and capricious rules. He was skillfully establishing not only the skills, but the underlying foundation that would serve her well all the way through college. After a short time, the little girl left, proud of her new abilities. The two men went back to work and quickly resolved the remaining intellectual road-blocks.

Dr. Teller escorted Prof. von Neumann to his car, thanking him for their collaborative time together. As the car drove off, he was marveling again at how smoothly Dr. von Neumann had slipped down to his granddaughter's level and how selflessly he had not only shown her the most practical methods and guided her to an essential understanding, he had done so without "showing her up."

Later, Dr. Teller recalled that a thunderbolt had struck him as he stood there! He wondered: "How far did he have to come down to show me how to do my work without making me feel diminished.!?!".