The apex of mathematical achievement occurs when two or more fields which were thought to be entirely unrelated turn out to be closely intertwined. Mathematicians have never decided whether they should feel excited or upset by such events. — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share Image
Every lecture should state one main point and repeat it over and over, like a theme with variations. An audience is like a herd… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
God created infinity, and man, unable to understand infinity, had to invent finite sets. — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
Philosophers and psychiatrists should explain why it is that we mathematicians are in the habit of systematically erasing our footsteps. Scientists have always looked… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
The lack of real contact between mathematics and biology is either a tragedy, a scandal or a challenge, it is hard to decide which. — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
The apex of mathematical achievement occurs when two or more fields which were thought to be entirely unrelated turn out to be closely intertwined.… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
[In mathematics] There are two kinds of mistakes. There are fatal mistakes that destroy a theory, but there are also contingent ones, which are… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
Every field has its taboos. In algebraic geometry the taboos are (1) writing a draft that can be followed by anyone but two or… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
Running overtime is the one unforgivable error a lecturer can make. After fifty minutes (one microcentury as von Neumann used to say) everybody's attention… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
Mathematics is the study of analogies between analogies. All science is. Scientists want to show that things that don't look alike are really the… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
If we have no idea why a statement is true, we can still prove it by induction. — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
Mathematicians also make terrible salesmen. Physicists can discover the same thing as a mathematician and say 'We've discovered a great new law of nature.… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
Stan Ulam was lazy, ... He talked too much ... He was self-centered ... . He had an overpowering personality. — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
Combinatorics is an honest subject. No adèles, no sigma-algebras. You count balls in a box, and you either have the right number or you… — Gian-Carlo Rota Copy Share
