Look Who it Was Random video

Freeman Dyson - Family, friends and work (155/157)

4,801 views · Published 27 July 2016 · 1:05 · Indexed 28 October 2026

Channel: Web of Stories - Life Stories of Remarkable People · 2016 · Science & Technology

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To listen to more of Freeman Dyson’s stories, go to the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVV0r6CmEsFzDA6mtmKQEgWfcIu49J4nN

Freeman Dyson (1923-2020), who was born in England, moved to Cornell University after graduating from Cambridge University with a BA in Mathematics. He subsequently became a professor and worked on nuclear reactors, solid state physics, ferromagnetism, astrophysics and biology. He published several books and, among other honours, was awarded the Heineman Prize and the Royal Society's Hughes Medal. [Listener: Sam Schweber; date recorded: 1998]

TRANSCRIPT: I always say what I told the students the other day at Clarkson University: There are three things in my life which are important, namely family, friendship and work, in that order, and I think that's always been true. So for me work has always been fun, but I've never taken it too seriously.

[SS] And... has it become easier as you grow older to make friendships?

Yes, I think so. Yes, I'm not shy any more. There's a wonderful little book called Period Piece by Gwen Raverat who is a granddaughter of Darwin, about growing up a child in Cambridge, and she ends the book by saying the great thing about growing old is that you don't have to care any more what other people say or think.

[SS] It's easier to be courageous...

Yes!

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