Quotes by Mathematicians

It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By definition, there are already enough people to do that. G. H. Hardy

Time Man People Intelligence Worth Enough Enough People Definition Majority Intelligent

I realise that in this undertaking I place myself in a certain opposition to views widely held concerning the mathematical infinite and to opinions frequently defended on the nature of numbers. Georg Cantor

Myself Nature Concerning Frequently Opinions Undertaking Opposition Mathematical Infinite Realise Place Held Certain Views Widely Defended Numbers

The description of right lines and circles, upon which geometry is founded, belongs to mechanics. Geometry does not teach us to draw these lines, but requires them to be drawn. Isaac Newton

Circles Draw Drawn Does Geometry Lines Which Them Us Requires Teach Mechanics Description Founded Right Belongs

If a projectile were deprived of the force of gravity, it would not be deflected toward the earth but would go off in a straight line into the heavens and do so with uniform motion, provided that the resistance of the air were removed. Isaac Newton

Air Earth Would Toward Force Motion Go Line Were Provided Off Heavens Straight Straight Line Uniform Deprived Gravity Resistance

Gravity must be caused by an Agent acting constantly according to certain laws, but whether this Agent be material or immaterial I have left to the consideration of my readers. Isaac Newton

Consideration Immaterial Must Constantly Laws Readers Material Caused Left According Whether Agent Certain Acting Gravity

It may be that there is no such thing as an equable motion, whereby time may be accurately measured. All motions may be accelerated or retarded, but the true, or equable, progress of absolute time is liable to no change. Isaac Newton

Time Change Progress Liable Absolute Retarded True Accelerate Motion Motions Accurately May Whereby Measured Thing

The ancients considered mechanics in a twofold respect: as rational, which proceeds accurately by demonstration, and practical. To practical mechanics all the manual arts belong, from which mechanics took its name. Isaac Newton

Respect Twofold Took Considered Ancient Rational Name Practical Demonstration Accurately Arts Proceeds Which Manual Mechanics Belong

If things are not so good, you may be one to imagine something better. For me, I was able to imagine myself as in a role of greater importance than I would seem to be ordinarily. John Forbes Nash, Jr.

Myself Good Me You Better Would Able Seem Something Importance Greater Greater Importance Than Role May Ordinarily Things Imagine

There's no sense in being precise when you don't even know what you're talking about. John von Neumann

You Sense About No Sense Know Talking Precise Being Even

I don't have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I'm as good as anybody, but no better. Katherine Johnson

Good Inferiority Better Feeling Never Had Anybody

I was excited at something new, always liked something new, but give credit to everybody who helped. I didn't do anything alone but try to go to the root of the question and succeeded there. Katherine Johnson

Alone Try Everybody Give Something Something New Excited New Liked Always Go Question Anything Succeeded Root Who Helped Credit

In math, you're either right or you're wrong. Katherine Johnson

You Wrong Math Either Right

I like to learn. That's an art and a science. Katherine Johnson

Art Science Like Learn

I found what I was looking for at Langley. This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33 years happy. Never did I get up and say I don't want to go to work. Katherine Johnson

Work Day Happy Every Day Looking Research Every Say Never Go Years Mathematician Up Get Did Want Found

Many professors tell you that you'd be good at this or that, but they don't always help you with that career path. Katherine Johnson

Good You Path Tell Always Help Many Professors Career Career Path

Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself. Pythagoras

Light Cloud All Things Shadow Above Thyself Reverence Star Things

A thought is an idea in transit. Pythagoras

Thought Idea Transit

It would be very discouraging if somewhere down the line you could ask a computer if the Riemann hypothesis is correct and it said, 'Yes, it is true, but you won't be able to understand the proof.' Ronald Graham

You Somewhere Down Correct Would Would-Be Able Proof Could Computer Hypothesis True Understand Said Line Discouraging Yes Very Ask

Aerial flight is one of that class of problems with which men will never have to cope. Simon Newcomb

Class Problems Will Men Never Aerial Which Flight Cope

If my impressions are correct, our educational planing mill cuts down all the knots of genius, and reduces the best of the men who go through it to much the same standard. Simon Newcomb

Best Genius Men Down Our Correct Through Knots Go Educational Impressions Same Cuts Much Standard Who Mill

Many who have had an opportunity of knowing any more about mathematics confuse it with arithmetic, and consider it an arid science. In reality, however, it is a science which requires a great amount of imagination. Sofia Kovalevskaya