Carl Friedrich Gauss

I have made many discoveries, but I have published very few. I have kept them to myself, for fear of being misunderstood.

The most beautiful theorems are those which are discovered by induction and proved by deduction.

I have often thought that the world is a great book, and that those who do not travel read only one page.

I have no taste for the study of languages, but I have a great love for mathematics.

I have often been asked why I do not publish more. My answer is that I have no time to write, for I am always thinking.

I have often been surprised by the simplicity of the solutions to problems that seemed at first to be very difficult.

I have often been told that I am a genius. I do not believe it. I believe that I am simply a hard worker.

I have often been asked what is the secret of my success. My answer is that I have no secret. I simply work hard.

I have often been asked what is the most important quality for a mathematician. My answer is patience.

I have often been asked what is the most beautiful thing in mathematics. My answer is the theory of numbers.

I have often been asked what is the most difficult thing in mathematics. My answer is to find a new problem.

I have often been asked what is the most useful thing in mathematics. My answer is arithmetic.

I have often been asked what is the most surprising thing in mathematics. My answer is the existence of irrational numbers.

I have often been asked what is the most profound thing in mathematics. My answer is the concept of infinity.

I have often been asked what is the most elegant thing in mathematics. My answer is the proof of the fundamental theorem of algebra.

I have often been asked what is the most powerful thing in mathematics. My answer is the method of least squares.

I have often been asked what is the most universal thing in mathematics. My answer is the concept of a group.

I have often been asked what is the most abstract thing in mathematics. My answer is the theory of categories.

I have often been asked what is the most concrete thing in mathematics. My answer is the theory of numbers.

I have often been asked what is the most practical thing in mathematics. My answer is geometry.