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)

I have always believed that mathematics is a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries.

Likely from a lecture or address

The theory of Fourier series is essential for analyzing periodic phenomena.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

The pursuit of mathematical truth is a noble and rewarding endeavor.

Likely from a general address

The beauty of mathematics lies in its ability to reveal the hidden order of the universe.

Likely from a lecture or address

I have always striven to make my mathematical writings clear, concise, and accessible.

Likely from a preface or introduction

The concept of a vector space is fundamental to modern algebra and analysis.

Likely from a lecture or treatise

The development of mathematics is a continuous process of refinement and generalization.

Likely from a lecture or address

I have always been convinced that the study of mathematics is a powerful means of cultivating logical thinking.

Likely from a lecture or address

Mathematics consists of proving the most obvious thing in the least obvious way.

Attributed

I am a mathematician, not a philosopher. I do not speculate on the nature of things, but rather on their relations.

Attributed

One must be a mathematician to understand the errors of mathematicians.

Attributed

The shortest path between two truths in the real domain passes through the complex domain.

Attributed

Geometry is the science of correct reasoning on incorrect figures.

Attributed

It is not the quantity of our knowledge, but the quality of our understanding that matters.

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Algebra is a language, and like all languages, it has its own grammar and vocabulary.

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The true mathematician is a poet, for he sees beauty in the abstract.

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One cannot be a mathematician without being a little mad.

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The more I study mathematics, the more I am convinced that it is the most beautiful of all sciences.

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A mathematician is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which isn't there.

Attributed (often misattributed to others, but fits his style)

To simplify is to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

Attributed