Martin Hellman: The Wisdom of Foolishness

Explore the unconventional journey of cryptography pioneer Martin Hellman in this Stanford Engineering Hero Lecture. Discover how Hellman's decision to pursue cryptography in the early 1970s, despite warnings from colleagues about competing with the NSA, led to significant breakthroughs. Learn about various "tiltings at windmills" that defied expectations and yielded remarkable results. Gain insights into the value of pursuing seemingly impossible challenges and the wisdom that can be found in what others may perceive as foolishness.