Mathematicians are like lovers. Grant a mathematician the least principle, and he will draw from it a consequence which you must also grant him, and from this consequence another. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle More Quotes by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle More Quotes From Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle Ah! si l'on o" tait les chime' res aux hommes, quel plaisir leur resterait? Oh! If man were robbed of his fantasies, what pleasure would be left him? Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle fantasy would-be men L'univers?je l'en estime plus depuis que je sais qu'il ressemble a' une montre; il est surprenant que l'ordre de la nature, tout admirable qu'il est, ne roule que sur des choses si simples. I have come to esteem the universe more now that I know it resembles a watch; it is surprising that the order of nature, as admirable as it is, only runs on such simple things. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle simple running order Les vrais philosophes sont comme les e le phants, qui en marchant ne posent jamais le second pied a' terre que le premier ne soit bien affermi. True philosophers are like elephants, who when walking never placetheir second footontheground untilthefirst is steady. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle steady philosopher elephants In vain we shall penetrate more and more deeply the secrets of the structure of the human body, we shall not dupe nature; we shall die as usual. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle dupes usual secret They will have the World to be in Large, what a Watch is in Small; which is very regular, and depends only upon the just disposing of the several Parts of the Movement. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle watches life science I shall leave the world without regret, for it hardly contains a single good listener. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle regret silence world What we call happiness in the strictest sense comes from the (preferably sudden) satisfaction of needs which have been dammed up to a high degree. Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle
