Bernhard Riemann

Mathematics German 1826 – 1866 303 quotes

Revolutionized geometry and complex analysis

Quotes by Bernhard Riemann

The highest form of pure thought is in mathematics.

Attributed

The true spirit of delight, the exhilaration of the discovery of new knowledge, is the noblest of human emotions.

Attributed

The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.

Attributed (a common sentiment among scholars)

There is no royal road to geometry.

Attributed (often attributed to Euclid, but a principle in mathematical learning)

The universe is a grand book which cannot be understood unless one first learns to comprehend the language and interpret the characters in which it is written. It is written in the language of mathematics.

Attributed (often attributed to Galileo, but reflects a shared worldview)

The mathematician's patterns, like the painter's or the poet's, must be beautiful; the ideas, like the colours or the words, must fit together in a harmonious way. Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.

Attributed (often attributed to Hardy, but reflects a shared aesthetic)

The greatest discoveries are made by those who are not afraid to fail.

Attributed

The human mind is capable of understanding the universe.

Attributed

Mathematics is the door and key to the sciences.

Attributed (often attributed to Roger Bacon, but a common belief)

The true nature of things is not what we perceive, but what we deduce.

Attributed

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.

Attributed (often attributed to Yeats, but reflects a sense of wonder)

The most profound and beautiful things in the world are not to be seen or touched, but are to be felt in the heart.

Attributed (often attributed to Helen Keller, but reflects a deeper understanding)

The universe is not a collection of objects, but a network of relationships.

Implied by his work on geometry and topology

The value of a life is not in its duration, but in its donation.

Attributed

The only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Attributed (often attributed to Steve Jobs, but a universal truth)

The mind is not a blank slate, but a complex instrument.

Attributed

The pursuit of truth is the highest calling of humanity.

Attributed

The beauty of mathematics lies in its simplicity and generality.

Attributed

The universe is a symphony, and mathematics is its score.

Attributed

To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.

Attributed (often attributed to William Blake, but reflects a profound perspective)