There are a bunch of adjectives I would use to describe Asimov, and egotistical is so far down the list I&#x27;d get bored listing them before I got to it. It seems likely to be a realistic and honest self-assessment, on the basis of the breadth, depth, and foresight, of Asimov&#x27;s written work. If you&#x27;re Usain Bolt, is it egotistical to say, &quot;I&#x27;m probably the fastest runner in the world?&quot; Why is intellect so much different? Sure, there&#x27;s no precise measure of intelligence...but, someone with great intellectual achievement gets to, at the very least, lay claim to great intellect.<p>It would be easily dismissed if said by someone much less accomplished. In this case, I just take it as a frank statement of belief.<p>Regardless, I think it&#x27;s safe to say Minsky was a great intellect, of a caliber not often seen.