A. Flexner – founder of the Institute for Advanced Study – believed that scientists shouldn't worry about the “utility” of their research but be free to explore, driven by their curiosity only then will fundamental discoveries be possible.
The French mathematician André Weil was imprisoned for failure to report for duty in 1940. While in jail for six months at Rouen, he proved the Riemann hypothesis for curves over finite fields. pic.twitter.com/M5JeEg6c8j