Mathematical

About Newton: Nature to him was an open book, whose letters he could read without effort.

As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.

Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.

Fraulein Noether was the most significant creative mathematical genius thus far produced since the higher education of women began.

God is subtle but he is not malicious.

I became more and more convinced that even nature could be understood as a relatively simple mathematical structure.

I don’t believe in mathematics.

If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare me a citizen of the world. Should my theory prove untrue, France will say that I am a German, and Germany will declare that I am a Jew.

Most of the fundamental ideas of science are essentially simple, and may, as a rule, be expressed in a language comprehensible to everyone.

Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Since the mathematicians have invaded the theory of relativity I do not understand it myself any more.

The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill.

The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skills. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle requires creative imagination and marks real advances in science.

Yes, we now have to divide up our time like that, between politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever.