Who do you identify with? ( Archived) (8)

I have always identified with Isaac Newton since a very early age.

I actually invented calculus before I knew what it was. I was working on math homework problems in grade school and I was getting bored with them so I started making more complex dynamic problems. And to solve them I had to invent iterative algorithms to handle them, I kept perfecting the method until I got them down to something very similar to the fundamental theorem of calculus. When I showed my work to my teacher she simply said, "Oh, that's calculus, you'll learn about that later in high school". So unfortunately I was too late to lay claim to the invention, but at least I have the consolation of knowing that I did it on my own.

I have since learned a lot about the life of Isaac Newton. His social life was also much like mine. He never married and never fit in with society. I also very much identify with his physics. Of course later I started to identify with Einstein as well, but Isaac Newton will always be my first hero. Throughout the course of my life I have identified with many other people as well, Henry David Thoreau for one. But I'm sure that most everyone could give long list of famous people they identify with for one reason or another. I don't think I could ever identify with anyone any more deeply than I identify with Isaac Newton.