CHW wrote "Einstein, as I understand it, was initially
boxed out of academe largely because he was infinitely more gifted than his
teachers...Play it safe, is the rule by thumb" and GS answered: "
That is outside of Nabokov-L but, Charles, here
is fascinating modern sample of what you describe. In short it is about Jewish
mathematic genius from Russia, Grisha
Perelman, who chose not to play it safe after becoming “conspicuous”
person..."
Let's link academic duels
and VN ( there are various references to duels in "Ada": Van's, Demon
against Baron d' Onski, Pushkin's own...). I would like to bring up
now the French mathematical genius, Evariste Galois, who defied his
teachers instead of hiding his genius and who died from wounds suffered in
a duel.
The idea of burning at the stake
because of one's superior discoveries and ideas (Giordano Bruno), trying to
force faith, theory and perception meet ( Johannes Kepler) and Galileo's
insistent provocations against the Roman Church versus Inquisition, seem to
have been themes that instigated VN and his own shining intelligence.
Jansy