... it is true that a mathematician who is not somewhat of a poet, will never be a perfect mathematician.
• Letter to Sofia Kovalevskaya, August 27, 1883, as shared by Gösta Mittag-Leffler at the 2nd International Congress for Mathematicians in Paris. Compte rendu du deuxième Congrès international des mathematiciens tenu à Paris du 6 au 12 août 1900, Gauthier-Villars (Paris), 1902, page 149.
• Letter to Sofia Kovalevskaya, August 27, 1883, as shared by Gösta Mittag-Leffler at the 2nd International Congress for Mathematicians in Paris. Compte rendu du deuxième Congrès international des mathematiciens tenu à Paris du 6 au 12 août 1900, Gauthier-Villars (Paris), 1902, page 149.
“
... es ist wahr, ein Mathematiker, der nicht etwas Poet ist, wird nimmer ein vollkommener Mathematiker sein.
— Karl Weierstrass
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "... es ist wahr, ein Mathematiker, der nicht etwas Poet ist, wird nimmer ein vollkommener Mathematiker sein." in the context of "... it is true that a mathematician who is not somewhat of a poet, will never be a perfect mathematician.
• Letter to Sofia Kovalevskaya, August 27, 1883, as shared by Gösta Mittag-Leffler at the 2nd International Congress for Mathematicians in Paris. Compte rendu du deuxième Congrès international des mathematiciens tenu à Paris du 6 au 12 août 1900, Gauthier-Villars (Paris), 1902, page 149." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Karl Weierstrass" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Karl Weierstrass
Karl Theodor Wilhelm Weierstrass (October 31, 1815 – February 19, 1897) was a German mathematician who is often cited as the "father of modern analysis".
About Karl Weierstrass
Karl Theodor Wilhelm Weierstrass (October 31, 1815 – February 19, 1897) was a German mathematician who is often cited as the "father of modern analysis".
View all quotes →