Quotes by Math A good mathematical joke is better, and better mathematics, than a dozen mediocre papers. John Edensor Littlewood mediocritypapermath A linguist would be shocked to learn that if a set is not closed this does not mean that it is open, or again that "E is dense in E" does not mean the same thing as "E is dense in itself". John Edensor Littlewood learningmathmean I recall once saying that when I had given the same lecture several times I couldn't help feeling that they really ought to know it by now. John Edensor Littlewood lecturesmathfeelings I would not dare to say that there is a direct relation between mathematics and madness, but there is no doubt that great mathematicians suffer from maniacal characteristics, delirium and symptoms of schizophrenia. John Forbes Nash sufferingdoubtmath Mathematics has the completely false reputation of yielding infallible conclusions. Its infallibility is nothing but identity. Two times two is not four, but it is just two times two, and that is what we call four for short. But four is nothing new at all. And thus it goes on and on in its conclusions, except that in the higher formulas the identity fades out of sight. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe sightmathtwo The man ignorant of mathematics will be increasingly limited in his grasp of the main forces of civilization. John G. Kemeny mathmenscience ...it is the greatest achievement of a teacher to enable his students to surpass him. John G. Kemeny teachingmathteacher Mere poets are sottish as mere drunkards are, who live in a continual mist, without seeing or judging anything clearly. A man should be learned in several sciences, and should have a reasonable, philosophical and in some measure a mathematical head, to be a complete and excellent poet. John Dryden philosophicallearningmath Lest men suspect your tale untrue, Keep probability in view. John Gay viewsmathmen I was so pleased to be at university to do physics and mathematics. John Henry Carver mathematicsphysicsmath ... You get surreal numbers by playing games. I used to feel guilty in Cambridge that I spent all day playing games, while I was supposed to be doing mathematics. Then, when I discovered surreal numbers, I realized that playing games IS math. John Horton Conway mathnumbersscience The vast majority of us imagine ourselves as like literature people or math people. But the truth is that the massive processor known as the human brain is neither a literature organ or a math organ. It is both and more. John Green brainmathpeople A great memory does not make a mind, any more than a dictionary is a piece of literature. John Henry Newman mindmathmemories Mathematicians are like Frenchmen: whatever you say to them they translate into their own language and forthwith it is something entirely different. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe humorousmathfunny What distinguishes a mathematical model from, say, a poem, a song, a portrait or any other kind of "model," is that the mathematical model is an image or picture of reality painted with logical symbols instead of with words, sounds or watercolors. John L. Casti teachingmathsong I never made a career decision based solely on my desire to be an astronaut. I attended the Naval Academy because I wanted to be a Navy pilot. I majored in math because math had always come pretty easily to me and I liked it. John L. Phillips careersdecisionmath I was working at Kentucky Fried Chicken when my math teacher said, "You're failing in school, you're messing up, why don't you just try this?" I said, "Alright, let me try it," and I started going to acting classes and I loved it. I thought, "I may not make it but I love doing it." John Leguizamo mathteacherschool Well I was about to be expelled from school, I had been arrested and a teacher said: "Why don't you try acting, instead of distracting the class? Why don't you use your comic talent for something more productive?" My maths teacher suggested I do comedy and I decided to have a go. I pursued it after that. I was about 17. John Leguizamo mathteacherschool Logic is the anatomy of thought. John Locke educationmathknowledge There can be no question, however, that prolonged commitment to mathematical exercises in economics can be damaging. It leads to the atrophy of judgement and intuition. . . John Kenneth Galbraith exercisemathcommitment«3738394041424344454647»
