Absentmindedness – Sir Isaac Newton

One day, a friend of the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) arrived at the agreed time for dinner.  He was invited the previous day by Newton himself. He found the scientist engrossed into his work, so he sat down and - waited.

Of course, Newton paid no attention to his friend. 

Time passed.

Finally, the servant brought dinner on a tray only for Newton because the host did not inform him that he would be having guests. Once again, Newton paid no attention to what was happening around him.

Mad because he was sitting neglected and silent, the guest took Newton’s dinner and ate it...

Soon after, Newton completed what he was doing. He looked with astonishment at his friend, who he previously did not even noticed, and then at empty tray:

- If I didn’t have you as my witness, I could have swear that I haven’t eaten my dinner! - absently uttered the famous mathematician.

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Modesty

 

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), British philosopher, mathematician and writer, was once approached by a fellow philosopher who told him that they have to agree about something very important.

Otherwise, just before this event, his fellow philosopher wrote a book in which he copied almost verbatim already published Russell's philosophical studies.

Since this type of people do not have honor, in his unbelievable behavior, the plagiarist eagerly said to Russell:

"I have written a remarkable book. I'm sure you will like it. It seems to me that only you could speak of it on the literary evenings and present it to the public, "said the philosopher.

"My modesty urges me not to do it," briefly replied Russell.

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