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Timothy Gowers

Timothy Gowers Quotes

Mathematician

Timothy Gowers is a British mathematician renowned for his research in combinatorial mathematics and mathematical logic. Born on November 20, 1963, he is a member of the Royal Society and has received prestigious awards such as the Fields Medal and the Crafoord Prize.

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Famous Timothy Gowers Quotes

“It is obvious that mathematics needs both sorts of mathematicians, theory-builders and problem-solvers.”

Needs Problem Theory Mathematics Obvious Mathematician Builder Problem Solvers

Author:Timothy Gowers

“Moreover, if one selects a problem, works on it in isolation for a few years and finally solves it, there is a danger, unless the problem is very famous, that it will no longer be regarded as all that significant.”

Ifs Years Problem Danger Mathematics Solve Significant Isolation Very Famous

Author:Timothy Gowers

“At the other end of the spectrum is, for example, graph theory, where the basic object, a graph, can be immediately comprehended. One will not get anywhere in graph theory by sitting in an armchair and trying to understand graphs better. Neither is it particularly necessary to read much of the literature before tackling a problem: it is of course helpful to be aware of some of the most important techniques, but the interesting problems tend to be open precisely because the established techniques cannot easily be applied.”

Trying Important Ends Problem Courses Literature Interesting Example Objects Theory Sitting Mathematics Technique Helpful Spectrum Tackling Armchairs Graphs

Author:Timothy Gowers

“Here is something Category-Theorists like: it is trivial, but not trivially trivial.”

Science Mathematics Categories Theorists

Author:Timothy Gowers

“... the atlas is a manifold. This is a typical mathematician's use of the word "is", and should not be confused with the normal use.”

Should Use Science Normal Mathematics Confused Mathematician Typical Manifold Atlas

Author:Timothy Gowers

“This attitude [the abstract method in mathematics] can be encapsulated in the following slogan: a mathematical object is what it does.”

Doe Attitude Learning Objects Mathematics Method Following Mathematical Abstract Programming Slogans

Author:Timothy Gowers

“A typical mathematician does not actively try to be useful. Individual mathematicians are motivated primarily by a subtle mixture of ambition and intellectual curiosity, and not by a wish to benefit society, nevertheless, mathematics as a whole does benefit society.”

Trying Doe Whole Individual Wish Benefits Ambition Intellectual Mathematics Curiosity Math Subtle Motivated Nevertheless Mathematician Typical Mixtures Intellectual Curiosity

Author:Timothy Gowers

About the Author

Born: November 20, 1963
Known for: Mathematician
Quotes: 9

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MathematicsRelated source material

Mathematics: A Very Short IntroductionRelated source material

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