“Q. You do not consider your statement a disloyal one?
“A. No, sir. Scientific truth is beyond loyalty and disloyalty
“Q. You are sure that your statement represents scientific truth?
“A. I am.
…
“Q. Can you prove that the mathematics is valid?
“A. Only to another mathematician.
“Q. (with a smile) Your claim is then that your truth is of so esoteric a nature that it is beyond the understanding of a plain man. It seems to me that truth should be clearer than that, less mysterious, more open to the mind.
“A. It presents no difficulties to some minds. The physics of energy transfer, which we know as thermodynamics, has been clear and true through all the history of man …, yet there may be people present who would find it impossible to design a power engine. People of high intelligence, too. …”
Isaac Asimov, Foundation, Bantam Dell, 2004, p32.