[andrewgleave]

"""But what Richard hated, or at least pretended to hate, was being asked to give advice. So why were people always asking him for it? Because even when Richard didn't understand, he always seemed to understand better than the rest of us. And whatever he understood, he could make others understand as well. Richard made people feel like a child does, when a grown-up first treats him as an adult. He was never afraid of telling the truth, and however foolish your question was, he never made you feel like a fool."""

This is why he is spoken of with such reverence and why his insights have profoundly impacted both scientists and non-scientists alike. Few Nobel laureates have achieved such popular influence.