Abraham Flexner Quotes

Today the function of the artist is to bring imagination to science and science to imagination, where they meet, in the myth.

But mathematics is the sister, as well as the servant, of the arts and is touched by the same madness and genius.

Mathematics is one of the essential emanations of the human spirit, a thing to be valued in and for itself, like art or poetry.

Art and creativity are crucial, whether you're a mathematician, a scientist, or an artist.

We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry.

The reason why we do maths is because it's like poetry. It's about patterns, and that really turned me on. It made me feel that maths was in tune with the other things I liked doing.

The scientist and engineers who are building the future need the poets to make sense of it.

It's really only all about music. It's not like a big rocket scientist kind of philosophy or anything.

In The Doors we have both musicians and poets, and both know of each other's art, so we can effect a synthesis.

I find purer philosophy in a Poem than in a Conclusion of Geometry, a chemical analysis, or a physical law.

For some years, I've been very interested in the relationship between science and art.

I am only conscious of any satisfaction in Scientific Reading or thinking when it rounds off into a poetical generality and vagueness.

I take a lot from everywhere. I take from music, architecture, novels, and plays. Anywhere that hits you.

I'm really influenced by so many different things.

In mathematics and science we solve our problems as well as create them. But in art and philosophy things are not so simple.

I feel like science and art are cousins.

I spent three years there and encountered great teachers who gave me enough stimulation to last me for the rest of my life - Josef Albers, painter; Buckminster Fuller, inventor; Max Dehn, the mathematician, and many others. Through them, I came to understand the total commitment required if one must be an artist.

I have lots of different interests. Any of my friends will know I'm interested both in science and in art.

Here, where we reach the sphere of mathematics, we are among processes which seem to some the most inhuman of all human activities and the most remote from poetry. Yet it is here that the artist has the fullest scope of his imagination.

To admire on principle is the only way to imitate without loss of originality.

I think the Macintosh was created by a group of people who felt that ah there wasn't a strict vision between sort of science and art.

Some scientists find, or so it seems, that they get their best ideas when smoking; others by drinking coffee or whisky. Thus there is no reason why I should not admit that some may get their ideas by observing, or by repeating observations.

We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry.

A surprising proportion of mathematicians are accomplished musicians. Is it because music and mathematics share patterns that are beautiful?

Reading, conversation, environment, culture, heroes, mentors, nature – all are lottery tickets for creativity. Scratch away at them and you’ll find out how big a prize you’ve won.