glinia

  [In] FullSimplify[expr1 == expr2]

  [Out] True

The descriptions of Einstein and Gödel's feelings remind me of http://paulgraham.com/hamming.html

When you are famous it is hard to work on small problems.

The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, in my opinion, has ruined more good scientists than any institution has created, judged by what they did before they came and judged by what they did after. Not that they weren't good afterwards, but they were superb before they got there and were only good afterwards.

One of my favorite articles is from Esquire Classics. About the early days of the Silicon Valley: http://classics.esquire.com/wolfe-noyce/

Agreed. Anything else is a waste of time, and usually leaves me with more questions than answers.

At the same time, the quick and efficient version can still be presented in a positive - or at least nonnegative - way, which I think OP mentions: "callous indifference" is indistinguishable from "mean", for many people, which makes it difficult to work together.

Agreed @ perspective-hopping. It definitely helps to consider every stakeholder's viewpoint when making a decision.

Also: I've heard the "kindness version" of the religious saying:

"Do unto others as they would have you do unto them."

Of course, taken to extremes this is a bad idea. But it definitely helps to get into that mindset.