Pigaud, he made up for this with his extensive knowledge of Javanese literature, of all things Javanese in general, and by his zeal for Javanese studies.[9] As he matured, he gained respect among both Europeans and his fellow Indonesians.[9] His works combined the scientific method—which was uncommon among Indonesian native authors at his time—with his intimate knowledge of his subjects as an insider.[10] He was often critical of the text and manuscript that he worked on, noticing spelling errors, and preferring to compare multiple sources before publishing a manuscript.[11] Pigeaud said that his works and his behaviour often showed a sense of humour characteristic of a punokawan (jesters in Javanese wayangs).[12] During his retirement in Jakarta, he did not stop working.[13] De Graaf said that during this period he was "quietly but indefatigably studying and publishing".[13]