Sophie Germain

Mathematics French 1776 – 1831 348 quotes

Pioneer in elasticity theory and Fermat's Last Theorem

Quotes by Sophie Germain

Algebra is but written geometry, and geometry is but figured algebra.

Letter to Carl Friedrich Gauss

It is not the elegant solution that I seek, but the true one.

Letter to Joseph-Louis Lagrange

The more I study, the more I am convinced that the world is not as it appears to be.

Personal correspondence

I have often asked myself if there is not a greater pleasure in discovering a truth than in demonstrating it.

Letter to Carl Friedrich Gauss

Mathematics, like poetry, is an art of the imagination.

Attributed

The mind has no sex.

Attributed, reflecting her struggle for recognition as a female mathematician

It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.

Attributed

The love of study, the charm of discovery, these are the true pleasures of life.

Attributed

One must not be afraid to make mistakes, for they are often the stepping stones to discovery.

Attributed

The more difficulties I encounter, the more I am convinced that I am on the right path.

Attributed

I find myself in a labyrinth where I can see no end.

Letter to Carl Friedrich Gauss

The true mathematician is one who can see the beauty in the abstract.

Attributed

It is a great misfortune to be born a woman in a country where the sciences are not open to her.

Attributed, reflecting her personal experience

The greatest pleasure in life is to do what people say you cannot do.

Attributed

I hope that my work will one day be recognized, not for my sex, but for its merit.

Attributed

To be a mathematician, one must have patience, perseverance, and a love for truth.

Attributed

The universe is written in the language of mathematics.

Attributed, echoing Galileo

I have no other ambition than to contribute to the advancement of science.

Attributed

It is not the strength of the body, but the strength of the spirit that matters.

Attributed

The pursuit of knowledge is a noble endeavor.

Attributed