Augustin-Louis Cauchy
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)
Rigorous mathematics prevents errors in engineering applications.
The infinite series must converge absolutely for reliability.
Harmonic functions satisfy Laplace's equation.
I regret not having more time to develop celestial mechanics further.
Mathematics is the language of the universe, given by God.
The method of exhaustion, revived from the ancients, is powerful.
In teaching, clarity is as important as depth.
The French Academy should prioritize pure mathematics.
My contributions to analysis will stand the test of time.
Divergent series can still yield meaningful results under certain conditions.
The stress tensor describes internal forces in solids.
Life's trials strengthen the resolve to seek truth.
A witty mathematician once said, but I prefer proof over jest.
The binomial theorem generalizes to complex exponents.
In politics, as in math, consistency is key.
The joy of discovery in mathematics surpasses all.
Cauchy's inequality bounds the inner product.
Fluid dynamics requires careful consideration of viscosity.
I have no last words but to commend my soul to God.
The theory of equations demands algebraic rigor.
Contemporaries of Augustin-Louis Cauchy
Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of Augustin-Louis Cauchy (1789–1857).