“I presume that to the uninitiated the formulae will appear cold and cheerless; but let it be remembered that, like other mathematical formulae, they find their origin in the divine source of all geometry. Whether I shall have the satisfaction of taking part in their exposition, or whether that will remain for some more profound expositor, will be seen in the future.” DivineSourceColdProfoundSatisfactionMathematicalRememberedGeometry Author:Benjamin Peirce
“... there are those who believe that mathematics can sustain itself and grow without any further contact with anything outside itself, and those who believe that nature is still and always will be one of the main (if not the main) sources of mathematical inspiration. The first group is identified as "pure mathematicians" (though "purist" would be more adequate) while the second is, with equal inadequacy, referred to as "applied".” IfsFirstsBelieveStillsInspirationWould BeGrowsGroupsSourcePureEqualMathematicsContactMathematicalMathematicianAdequateInadequacy Author:Mark Kac