The Importance of Freedom in Life

I wouldn't be shy to say that I was a clever boy. So you know, I had no difficulty with schoolwork. And in fact, I probably became very quickly better than a teacher. To this day, I read, I'm an avid reader and the possible scholar of classical Chinese. But my father said, well, that's an area where there is no progress. He wasn't cut out to be a mathematician. No, of course you die destitute and then, of course, you start becoming famous after your death. So what?