“That this subject [of imaginary magnitudes] has hitherto been considered from the wrong point of view and surrounded by a mysterious obscurity, is to be attributed largely to an ill-adapted notation. If, for example, +1, -1, and the square root of -1 had been called direct, inverse and lateral units, instead of positive, negative and imaginary (or even impossible), such an obscurity would have been out of the question.” IfsHas BeensViewsImpossibleSubjectsExampleNegativeDirectRootsIllPoint Of ViewMysteriousSquaresImaginaryUnitsObscurityMagnitudeAdaptedInverseSquare Roots Author:Carl Friedrich Gauss
“In the last two months I have been very busy with my own mathematical speculations, which have cost me much time, without my having reached my original goal. Again and again I was enticed by the frequently interesting prospects from one direction to the other, sometimes even by will-o'-the-wisps, as is not rare in mathematic speculations.” Has BeensTwoSometimesLastsGoalMy OwnInterestingMonthsCostOriginalsMathematicsBusyMathematicalAgain And AgainSpeculationProspectsTwo MonthsOne DirectionWisps Author:Carl Friedrich Gauss
“There have been only three epoch-making mathematicians, Archimedes, Newton, and Eisenstein.” Has BeensScienceThreeMathematicianNewtonEpoch Author:Carl Friedrich Gauss
“For three days now this angel, almost too heavenly for earth has been my fiancée ... Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant colours. Upon his engagement to Johanne Osthof of Brunswick; they married 9 Oct 1805.” Has BeensEarthScienceThreeEternalMarriedSpringAngelBrilliantColourHeavenlyEngagementBiographies Author:Carl Friedrich Gauss
