My teacher of geometry simply told me, "Your problem has nothing to do with me. Find Euclid - get out of the class. Find Euclid and settle things with him. I am a poor teacher, I just get my salary; I have nothing to do with his fundamental axioms. Whatever is written in the book, I teach. I am not interested at all whether his fundamental hypotheses are right or wrong. You get out.

He wouldn't allow me in the class. I said, "But how can you go on teaching year after year knowing that the basic points are absurd?"

He said, "I never knew; it is you who is hammering on my mind that they are absurd. I have never bothered; I am not a scientist nor a mathematician, just a poor teacher. And I never wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to be an inspector, but they didn't choose me. I tried to be an inspector, but they didn't choose me. I tried other jobs; everywhere no vacancy. It is just out of compulsion that I am a teacher here.

"Don't torture me. Your problem is with Euclid - don't bring me in. If you want to read what is written in the book, I am ready. But if you tell me that the fundamentals are wrong_."