Bernhard Riemann

Mathematics German 1826 – 1866 303 quotes

Revolutionized geometry and complex analysis

Quotes by Bernhard Riemann

The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.

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

The human condition is one of constant striving for understanding.

Attributed

The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.

Attributed

Death is not the end, but a transformation.

Attributed (reflects a philosophical or spiritual perspective)

The universe is a living organism, and we are its cells.

Attributed

The concept of a space of higher dimensions is not an arbitrary construction, but a necessary consequence of the inherent properties of space itself.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The properties of space are not given a priori, but are determined by the distribution of matter and energy within it.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

We must free ourselves from the prejudice that space is necessarily Euclidean.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The very nature of space could be different in different regions of the universe.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The metric of space is not fixed, but is a variable quantity that can be influenced by physical phenomena.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The axioms of geometry are not absolute truths, but rather empirical statements that can be tested and potentially falsified.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The concept of a straight line is only meaningful in a Euclidean space; in a curved space, the shortest path between two points is a geodesic.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The universe might be finite but unbounded, like the surface of a sphere.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The properties of space at infinitesimally small scales might be fundamentally different from those at macroscopic scales.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The question of whether space is infinite or finite cannot be answered by pure reason, but requires empirical observation.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The concept of a manifold allows us to generalize the notion of space beyond our intuitive three dimensions.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The curvature of space is a physical quantity, not merely a mathematical abstraction.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The laws of physics themselves might be dependent on the local geometry of space.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The idea of a 'flat' universe is just one possibility among many.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry

The geometry of space is not a static background, but an active participant in physical processes.

On the Hypotheses which lie at the Bases of Geometry