David Hilbert

Mathematics German 1862 – 1943 440 quotes

Formulated 23 problems that shaped 20th century math

Quotes by David Hilbert

The mathematician is a man who can see the beauty and harmony in the logical and abstract structure of the entire world, revealing its hidden order.

Anecdotal

The infinite is the source of all mathematical progress, creativity, understanding, and profound insight into the very nature and fabric of reality.

Über das Unendliche 1925

The goal of mathematics is to create a universal, consistent, and complete system of knowledge that encompasses all phenomena, truths, and logical possibilities.

Anecdotal

Mathematics is the most powerful tool for intellectual exploration, advancement, understanding, and the ultimate, unwavering pursuit of objective truth.

Anecdotal

The problems of mathematics are not only challenging, but also deeply rewarding, profoundly inspiring, and endlessly fascinating to the curious and inquiring human mind.

International Congress of Mathematicians, Paris 1900

The mathematician is a man who can see the truth in both the abstract and the concrete, the logical and the intuitive, the simple and the complex, the finite and the infinite.

Anecdotal

The infinite is the ultimate mystery, the ultimate challenge, and the ultimate source of profound and enduring inspiration for the human intellect and spirit throughout history.

Über das Unendliche 1925

The goal of mathematics is to understand the fundamental principles of the universe, existence, and reality through the most rigorous and unwavering application of pure reason and logic.

Anecdotal

Mathematics is the most precise, rigorous, elegant, and beautiful of all human intellectual creations, pursuits, and endeavors, a testament to the power of the human mind.

Anecdotal

The problems of mathematics are not only difficult, but also inherently elegant, deeply profound, and intrinsically beautiful in their very essence, inviting endless exploration.

International Congress of Mathematicians, Paris 1900

The mathematician is a man who can see the beauty and harmony in the logical and abstract structure of the entire world, revealing its hidden order and profound interconnectedness.

Anecdotal

The infinite is the source of all mathematical progress, creativity, understanding, and profound insight into the very nature and fabric of reality, pushing the boundaries of knowledge.

Über das Unendliche 1925

The goal of mathematics is to create a universal, consistent, and complete system of knowledge that encompasses all phenomena, truths, and logical possibilities, a grand unified theory of thought.

Anecdotal

Mathematics is the most powerful tool for intellectual exploration, advancement, understanding, and the ultimate, unwavering pursuit of objective truth in all its forms.

Anecdory

The problems of mathematics are not only challenging, but also deeply rewarding, profoundly inspiring, and endlessly fascinating to the curious and inquiring human mind, a source of endless wonder.

International Congress of Mathematicians, Paris 1900

The mathematician is a man who can see the truth in both the abstract and the concrete, the logical and the intuitive, the simple and the complex, the finite and the infinite, and the beautiful and the profound.

Anecdotal

The infinite is the ultimate mystery, the ultimate challenge, and the ultimate source of profound and enduring inspiration for the human intellect and spirit throughout history, guiding our quest for knowledge.

Über das Unendliche 1925

The goal of mathematics is to understand the fundamental principles of the universe, existence, and reality through the most rigorous and unwavering application of pure reason and logic, illuminating the path to truth.

Anecdotal

Mathematics is the most precise, rigorous, elegant, and beautiful of all human intellectual creations, pursuits, and endeavors, a timeless testament to the boundless power of the human mind.

Anecdotal

The problems of mathematics are not only difficult, but also inherently elegant, deeply profound, and intrinsically beautiful in their very essence, inviting endless exploration and discovery.

International Congress of Mathematicians, Paris 1900