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)

Art: Proof as poetry.

Metaphor 1840

Excerpt: On collaboration.

Letter 1825

Life: Love and work.

Note 1830

Comeback: Math wins arguments.

Debate 1830

Passage: Limit definition.

Cours 1821

Politics: Stability first.

Opinion 1830

Aphorism: Truth in numbers.

Saying 1845

Interview: On rivals.

Talk 1850

Observation: Series summation.

Mémoire 1833

Reflection: Peace in faith.

Last 1857

Joke: Functions party at infinity.

Quip 1825

Science: Wave theory complete.

Work 1827

Philosophy: Reason's limits.

View 1840

Wisdom: Build on solids.

Principle 1820

Art: Math's aesthetic.

Essay 1830

Letter: To daughter.

Family 1840

Life: Contentment in simplicity.

Thought 1850

Witty: Limits approach truth.

Remark 1845

Key: Cauchy principal value.

Mémoire 1825

Politics: Science neutral.

Statement 1830