Quotes by Mathematicians

It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in soul. Sofia Kovalevskaya

Soul Impossible Poet Without Mathematician Being

One can imagine that the ultimate mathematician is one who can see analogies between analogies. Stefan Banach

Analogy See Between Ultimate Mathematician Who Imagine

Mathematics is as old as Man. Stefan Banach

Mathematics Man Old

When I got to Princeton I made a point of attending the Philosophy Club and listening to the lectures, but I didn't get involved in any discussions in those clubs. I guess after the first year, I dropped that. Stephen Cole Kleene

Well, I think Barkley and I were the only two who were working with Church for a Ph.D. Stephen Cole Kleene

Church Think Only Well Were Working Who Two

The job in Wisconsin was the first genuine offer of an academic job in a university which I received. Stephen Cole Kleene

Job First Wisconsin Academic Genuine Offer Which Received University

It wasn't until my second year that I got to actually work with Church. Stephen Cole Kleene

Work Church Year Until Got Actually Second

I went to Princeton in the fall of 1930 as a half-time instructor. Stephen Cole Kleene

Princeton Fall Instructor

I went to Princeton from Amherst, where I split my interests between mathematics and philosophy. Stephen Cole Kleene

Mathematics Princeton Philosophy Split Between Where Interests Amherst

I think Veblen had an interest in logic. Stephen Cole Kleene

Think Logic Had Interest

I had some hesitations about philosophy because, if you worked out a philosophical theory, it was hard to know whether you were going to be able to prove it or whether other theories had just as good a claim on belief. Stephen Cole Kleene

I don't think Post often came to Princeton during the '30s. I can't remember ever seeing him in Princeton. Stephen Cole Kleene

Post Remember Princeton Think Seeing Him Came Often Ever

Here at Wisconsin we didn't get an undergraduate course in mathematical logic until the '60s. Stephen Cole Kleene

Logic Wisconsin Until Undergraduate Course Mathematical Get Here

For example, the philosophers who were interested in logic were probably rather logical for mathematicians. But the ASL got us together, so we could talk to each other and publish in the same journal. Stephen Cole Kleene

When you love a problem, its contours, obstacles and resistances are all just part of its character. Steven Strogatz

Love Character You Problem Part Obstacles Just

Math education has changed over the years. In the 19th century, they taught spherical trigonometry because one of the biggest applications of mathematics was navigating the ocean. This is no longer so relevant. Terence Tao

Education Mathematics Ocean Changed Relevant Longer Over Because Math Years Taught Biggest Century Applications

I have been lucky to find very good collaborators who have taught me a lot, have introduced me to several new fields of mathematics, or have shown me new insights. Terence Tao

Mathematics Good Me Several Collaborators Introduced Find Insights New Been Lot Very Taught Fields Who Lucky Shown

The standard high school curriculum traditionally has been focused towards physics and engineering. So calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra have always been the most emphasized, and for good reason - these are very important. Terence Tao

Good Physics School Important Engineering Algebra Focused Has-Been High High School Good Reason Emphasized Towards Most Calculus Equations Always Been Linear Very Curriculum Standard Reason Differential

Math research is more like a marathon. Terence Tao

Research More Like Math Marathon

Most of what I do does not save lives. Terence Tao

Most Does Lives Save