Home / Quotes / Quote by Michael Atiyah

Quote by Michael Atiyah

“No one fully understands spinors. Their algebra is formally understood but their general significance is mysterious. In some sense they describe the 'square root' of geometry and, just as understanding the square root of -1 took centuries, the same might be true of spinors.”

Author

Michael Atiyah

Michael Atiyah, born on April 22, 1929, is a renowned mathematician from the United Kingdom. He has made significant contributions to various fields of mathematics, particularly in topology, geometry, and mathematical physics. Atiyah is known for his research in K-theory, index theorems, and geometric analysis. more

“If you attack a mathematical problem directly, very often you come to a dead end, nothing you do seems to work and you feel that if only you could peer round the corner there might be an easy solution. There is nothing like having somebody else beside you, because he can usually peer round the corner.”

Ifs Feels Ends Problem Seems Might Easy Solutions Rounds Corners Mathematical Peers Dead Ends Beside You Mathematical Problems

Book:Collected Works: Michael Atiyah Collected Works: Volume 1: Early Papers; General Papers

Source: Collected Works: Michael Atiyah Collected Works: Volume 1: Early Papers; General Papers

“Behind the mask of diplomatic and political cooperation and partnership with the United States and Europe, the current Russian leaders are following the strategy of their predecessors and working towards a 'New World Order'. When the right moment comes the mask will be dropped and the Russians with Chinese help will seek to impose their system on the West on their own terms.”