Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Louis J. Mordell

Quote by Louis J. Mordell

“Neither you nor I nor anybody else knows what makes a mathematician tick. It is not a question of cleverness. I know many mathematicians who are far abler than I am, but they have not been so lucky. An illustration may be given by considering two miners. One may be an expert geologist, but he does not find the golden nuggets that the ignorant miner does.”

Quote by Louis J. Mordell

Author

Louis J. Mordell
Louis J. Mordell

Louis J. Mordell was a renowned mathematician known for his contributions to number theory and algebraic geometry. Born on January 28, 1888, he passed away on March 12, 1972. more

You May Also Like

“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.”

“... being perpetually charmed by his familiar siren, that is, by his geometry, he neglected to eat and drink and took no care of his person; that he was often carried by force to the baths, and when there he would trace geometrical figures in the ashes of the fire, and with his finger draws lines upon his body when it was anointed with oil, being in a state of great ecstasy and divinely possessed by his science.”