Analysts can choose the problems that they want to study whereas the statesman’s problems are imposed on him.
The major credit I think Jim and I deserve is for selecting the right problem and sticking to it. It's true that by blundering about we stumbled on gold, but the fact remains that we were looking for gold.
The easiest way to solve a problem is to pick an easy one.
It can be said with complete confidence that any scientist of any age who wants to make important discoveries must study important problems. Dull or piffling problems yield dull or piffling answers. It is not enough that a problem should be "interesting".
I have a philosophy that has guided me throughout all of my scientific career, and that is, I think of myself as a fairly thoughtful person. I don't go into projects impetuously, and I try to select important problems.
Success in science and scientific work come not through the provision of unlimited or big resources, but in the wise and careful selection of problems and objectives. Above all, what is required is hard sustained work and dedication.
You can judge a leader by the size of the problem he tackles - people nearly always pick a problem their own size, and ignore or leave to others the bigger or smaller ones.
And then what makes the work interesting is if you choose the right questions.
