--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's also a sense of freedom. I was so…" description: "\"There's also a sense of freedom. I was so obsessed by this problem that I was thinking about if all the time - when I woke up in the morning, when I we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/andrew-wiles-17828_freedom_there-s-also-a-sense-of-freedom-i-was-so_463241.jpg" --- # There's also a sense of freedom. I was so obsessed by this… ![“There's also a sense of freedom. I was so obsessed by this problem that I was thinking about if all the time - when I woke up in the morning, when I went to sleep at night, and that went on for eight years.” quote by Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/andrew-wiles-17828_freedom_there-s-also-a-sense-of-freedom-i-was-so_463241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/andrew-wiles-17828_freedom_there-s-also-a-sense-of-freedom-i-was-so_463241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/andrew-wiles-17828_freedom_there-s-also-a-sense-of-freedom-i-was-so_463241.jpg) > “There's also a sense of freedom. I was so obsessed by this problem that I was thinking about if all the time - when I woke up in the morning, when I went to sleep at night, and that went on for eight years.” [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense focus on a problem can feel imprisoning, yet also grants a liberating sense of purpose and freedom when immersed. **In simple terms:** Deep focus can feel both restrictive and freeing. Key Takeaway Embrace deep work, but balance with rest. Themes focus freedom obsession creativity Mood introspective determined hopeful Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - research - writing - problem solving - long‑term projects - personal growth Key Concepts psychology flow state motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance deep focus with personal wellbeing? - What signals tell you when to step back? A Different Perspective Too much immersion may lead to burnout or neglect of other life areas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Obsessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-obsessed-4019366/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Obsessed Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed-problem-4019367/) [Problem Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-thinking-882749/) [Sense Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-freedom/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I was so obsessed by this problem that I was thinking about it all the time - when I woke up in the morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-was-so-obsessed-by-this-problem-that-i-was-thinking-about-it-all/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [I tried to fit it in with some previous broad conceptual understanding of some part of mathematics that would clarify the particular problem I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-tried-to-fit-it-in-with-some-previous-broad-conceptual/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [“Your problem is in thinking the sky's the limit. Why set limits?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/your-problem-is-in-thinking-the-sky-s-the-limit-why-set-limits/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For the problem of decision-making in our complicated world is not how to get the problem simple enough so that we can all understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/for-the-problem-of-decision-making-in-our-complicated-world-is-not/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) > [“The first mistake is never the one that ruins you. It’s the spiral of repeated mistakes that follows. The problem is not slipping up;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clear/the-first-mistake-is-never-the-one-that-ruins-you-it-s-the-spiral-of/) [James Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clear/) > [“We’ve all experienced pondering a problem all day long only to find we receive the solution when forgetting about the problem and thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/we-ve-all-experienced-pondering-a-problem-all-day-long-only-to-find/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [But, to the extent that I cannot solve MY problem with the same thinking I used when I created it, you're right. We need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-schiff/but-to-the-extent-that-i-cannot-solve-my-problem-with-the-same/) [Lewis Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-schiff/) > [Thoughts are fine when you don't confuse them with who you are, and then thoughts are not a problem. 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Don't think - feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/thinking-is-the-problem-thinking-is-hazardous-to-your-progress-in/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Most people do not have a problem with you thinking for yourself, as long as your conclusions are the same as or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-people-do-not-have-a-problem-with-you-thinking-for-yourself-as/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If our thinking is clear, how could work or money be the problem? Our thinking is all we need to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/if-our-thinking-is-clear-how-could-work-or-money-be-the-problem-our/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [One cannot deal with a problem with the same thinking that creates it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/one-cannot-deal-with-a-problem-with-the-same-thinking-that-creates-it/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“And this was the greatest gift that aviation could ever give me; not the sense of freedom but the sense of permanence, coupling, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-benjamin/and-this-was-the-greatest-gift-that-aviation-could-ever-give-me-not/) [Melanie Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-benjamin/) ## More by Andrew Wiles > [The greatest problem for mathematicians now is probably the Riemann Hypothesis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/the-greatest-problem-for-mathematicians-now-is-probably-the-riemann/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [I loved doing problems in school. I'd take them home and make up new ones of my own. But the best problem I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-loved-doing-problems-in-school-i-d-take-them-home-and-make-up-new/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [There are proofs that date back to the Greeks that are still valid today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/there-are-proofs-that-date-back-to-the-greeks-that-are-still-valid/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [Perhaps the methods I needed to complete the proof would not be invented for a hundred years. 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But mathematics has one great advantage over oil, in that no one has yet ... found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/mathematics-is-a-bit-like-discovering-oil-but-mathematics-has-one/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [I know it's a rare privilege, but if one can really tackle something in adult life that means that much to you, then it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-know-it-s-a-rare-privilege-but-if-one-can-really-tackle-something/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [That particular odyssey is now over. My mind is now at rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/that-particular-odyssey-is-now-over-my-mind-is-now-at-rest/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [I never use a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-never-use-a-computer/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [Pure mathematicians just love to try unsolved problems - they love a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/pure-mathematicians-just-love-to-try-unsolved-problems-they-love-a/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [I tried to fit it in with some previous broad conceptual understanding of some part of mathematics that would clarify the particular problem I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-tried-to-fit-it-in-with-some-previous-broad-conceptual/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [We've lost something that's been with us for so long, and something that drew a lot of us into mathematics. But perhaps that's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/we-ve-lost-something-that-s-been-with-us-for-so-long-and-something/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [I carried this problem around in my head basically the whole time. I would wake up with it first thing in the morning, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/i-carried-this-problem-around-in-my-head-basically-the-whole-time-i-2/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) [Explore all 36 Andrew Wiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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