# Once they are conceived, the subject begins to live a peculiar life of its own by John von Neumann > "Once they are conceived, the subject begins to live a peculiar life of its own." > **— John von Neumann**, *The Mathematician (1947), excerpt candidate* Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: The Mathematician (1947), excerpt candidate.