David on Mathematics

“The art of doing mathematics consists in finding that special case which contains all the germs of generality.”

““It’s magic,” the chief cook concluded, in awe. “No, not magic,” the ship’s doctor replied. “It’s much more. It’s mathematics.””

“An old French mathematician said: A mathematical theory is not to be considered complete until you have made it so clear that you can explain it to the first man whom you meet on the street. This clearness and ease of comprehension, here insisted on for a mathematical theory, I should still more demand for a mathematical problem if it is to be perfect; for what is clear and easily comprehended attracts, the complicated repels us.”