"...To Landon Clay and his wife Lavinia Clay, to the Clay Family, to members of the Riemann family, and to all the mathematicians who have come to this historic occasion."
"Twenty-three years ago, at a conference held in Paris, the Clay Mathematics Institute announced prizes for the world's seven most famous unsolved problems. Though we do not need them, nor will they make true mathematicians any more passionate about Mathematics."
"But that does not mean they are unimportant."
"On the contrary, they have recorded for future generations the great unresolved problems left behind by the twentieth century. They have also inspired greater enthusiasm for Mathematics among those outside the mathematical world. More importantly, they have always served as a beacon, drawing young people, children, and students toward the ever-developing field of Mathematics and the questions related to it."
"Whether out of genuine love, or for the one-million-dollar prize."
The French Academy.
The spacious auditorium seemed somewhat crowded.
Because this was the Riemann Hypothesis award ceremony, nearly every leading scholar in France's mathematical community, as well as members of major mathematical organizations, had been invited to attend.
Before the millennium, this place had once been the center of Mathematics in Europe and even the world. Being able to give a speech here had once been the dream of countless mathematicians.
Even today, though that glory had long since faded along with the overall decline of Europe's mathematical community, many things had remained unchanged.
Standing at the podium before the solemn audience, Professor Carlson paused for a moment before continuing in a grave voice.
"Niels Henrik Abel once wrote in his memoirs that in order to solve a difficult problem, one must first state it correctly..."
"...In particular, formulate it correctly."
"What we see is often not as simple or straightforward as