“But as the work proceeded I was continually reminded of the fable about the elephant and the tortoise. Having constructed an elephant upon which the mathematical world could rest, I found the elephant tottering, and proceeded to construct a tortoise to keep the elephant from falling. But the tortoise was not more secure than the elephant, and after some twenty years of very arduous toil, I came to the conclusion that there was nothing more that I could do in the way of making mathematical knowledge indubitable.” WorldWayYearsFallFoundLogicTwentiesConclusionSecureCertaintyMathematicalUncertaintyReasoningElephantsToilConstructsFablesOntologyTortoisesGreat Math Book:Autobiography Source: Autobiography
“See that unfortunate soldier who is falling hurt to death ("tombe blessé à...", Fr.) on the battlefield; he learns that his folks have vanquished and dies happy. He detached himself from himself (s'est détacher de lui-même", Fr.), has identified himself with something greater and more lasting than himself; his homeland ("patrie", Fr.); thus, while dying as an individual, he has the certainty to survive in a larger existence.” DiesFallIndividualHurtExistenceGreaterDyingSoldierFolksCertaintyLastingBlessUnfortunateHomelandBattlefieldsDetached Author:African Spir
“In moments of spiritual crisis we naturally fall back upon what worked for us, or seemed to work, heretofore. Sometimes this shows up through the reassertion of our old values in belligerent, testy ways. Regression of any kind is just such a return to old presumptions, often after they have been shown to be insufficient for the complexity of larger questions. The virtue of the old presumptions is that they once worked, or seemed to work, and therein lies if not certainty, then nostalgia for a previous, presumptive security. In our private lives, we frequently fall back upon our old roles.” IfsWayKindHas BeensSometimesMomentsShowsSpiritualLyingValuesFallRolesVirtueSecurityReturnCrisisNostalgiaCertaintyComplexityPrivate LifeFall BackPresumptionInsufficientRegressionSpiritual CrisisOld Values Book:What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life Source: What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life