William Whewell Quotes

Geometry draws the soul towards truth.

The science [geometry] is pursued for the sake of the knowledge of what eternally exists, and not of what comes for a moment into existence, and then perishes.

Philosophy [nature] is written in that great book which ever is before our eyes -- I mean the universe -- but we cannot understand it if we do not first learn the language and grasp the symbols in which it is written. The book is written in mathematical language, and the symbols are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without whose help it is impossible to comprehend a single word of it; without which one wanders in vain through a dark labyrinth.

Geometry is not true, it is advantageous.

I've always been passionate about geometry and the study of three-dimensional forms.

Not that the propositions of geometry are only approximately true, but that they remain absolutely true in regard to that Euclidean space which has been so long regarded as being the physical space of our experience.

Everyone knows what a curve is, until he has studied enough mathematics to become confused through the countless number of possible exceptions.

Geometry was the first exciting course I remember.

The early study of Euclid made me a hater of geometry.

Plane geometry is sort of the key course where you learn about proving things and abstraction.

All mathematics is is a language that is well tuned, finely honed, to describe patterns; be it patterns in a star, which has five points that are regularly arranged, be it patterns in numbers like 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 that follow very regular progression.

One geometry cannot be more true than another; it can only be more convenient. Geometry is not true, it is advantageous.

I didn't discover curves; I only uncovered them.

If you have ever studied geometry, you remember that by a course of reasoning Euclid proves that all the angles in a triangle are equal to two right angles. Euclid has shown you how to work it out. Now, if you undertake to disprove that proposition, and to show that it is erroneous, would you prove it to be false by calling Euclid a liar?

A mathematical theorem can be true whether or not it is realized in the world.

One can understand nature only when one has learned the language and the signs in which it speaks to us; but this language is mathematics and these signs are methematical figures.

The book of nature is written in the language of mathematics.

How many theorems in geometry which have seemed at first impracticable are in time successfully worked out!

Geometry will draw the soul toward truth and create the spirit of philosophy.

The wise speak only of what they know

About what one can not speak, one must remain silent.

Geometry is knowledge that appears to be produced by human beings, yet whose meaning is totally independent of them.

Obviously a drawing of a person is not a real person, but a drawing of a line is a real line.

Geometry is the only science that it hath pleased God hitherto to bestow on mankind.

All that matters is that the thing be the thing of the thing.