Augustin-Louis Cauchy

Mathematics French 1789 – 1857 546 quotes

Rigorized calculus and founded complex analysis

Most quoted

"I am a Christian, that is to say, I believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, like Bossuet and Pascal, like Corneille and Racine, and like so many other great men who have been illustrious in the sciences and in letters. The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the works of the Creator. The more I study mathematics, the more I admire the wisdom of God."

"The mean value theorem for derivatives states that if a function is continuous on a closed interval and differentiable on the open interval, then there exists at least one point in the open interval where the derivative of the function is equal to the average rate of change of the function over the interval."

— from Cours d'Analyse de l'École Royale Polytechnique, 1821

"A function is continuous if, for every value of the variable between given limits, the numerical value of the difference between two successive values of the function becomes indefinitely small with the numerical value of the difference between the corresponding values of the variable."

— from Cours d'Analyse, 1821

All quotes by Augustin-Louis Cauchy (546)

It is not enough to know the properties of numbers and figures, but it is also necessary to know how to use them.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

Analysis is the science of the infinite.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

I have always sought to combine the rigor of geometry with the generality of algebra.

Likely from a preface or introduction

Mathematics is the queen of the sciences and arithmetic is the queen of mathematics.

Attributed, common sentiment of the era

A function is continuous if, for every value of the variable, the difference between the function and its value at that point can be made arbitrarily small.

Cours d'Analyse

The true method of discovery is to begin with the general and descend to the particular.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

I have always been convinced that the study of mathematics is one of the most powerful means of developing the human intellect.

Likely from a lecture or address

The rigor of mathematics is not an obstacle to its progress, but rather a guarantee of its certainty.

Likely from a preface or introduction

We must not be afraid to make mistakes, for it is through them that we learn.

Likely from a lecture or advice to students

The theory of functions of a complex variable is one of the most beautiful and fruitful branches of modern analysis.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

The progress of science depends on the constant interaction between theory and experiment.

Likely from a lecture or address

I have always striven to present mathematical truths in a clear and precise manner.

Likely from a preface or introduction

The calculus is a powerful tool for solving problems in physics and engineering.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

The study of infinite series is essential for understanding many phenomena in nature.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

I believe that mathematics should be taught in a way that emphasizes its beauty and elegance.

Likely from a lecture or address

Mathematical rigor is not an end in itself, but a means to an end: the discovery of truth.

Likely from a preface or introduction

The development of mathematics has always been closely linked to the needs of society.

Likely from a lecture or address

I have always been fascinated by the power of abstraction in mathematics.

Likely from a personal reflection

The theory of groups is a powerful tool for understanding symmetry in various fields of science.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

It is important to distinguish between what is rigorously proven and what is merely conjectured.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

Contemporaries of Augustin-Louis Cauchy

Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of Augustin-Louis Cauchy (1789–1857).

Niels Henrik Abel

1802–1829 · Norwegian