---
title: "2 Algebra Quotes By Israel Gelfand"
description: "2 Algebra quotes by Israel Gelfand. Plus more from Israel Gelfand and more Algebra sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/israel-gelfand-37964_algebra_they-have-the-idea-that-non-commutative_300842.jpg"
---

> [They have the idea that non-commutative algebra should remind one of commutative algebra, but the former is more sophisticated. I believe that non-commutative algebra is just as simple, but it is different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/they-have-the-idea-that-non-commutative-algebra-should-remind-one-of/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/israel-gelfand-37964_algebra_they-have-the-idea-that-non-commutative_300842.jpg)

> [... The approach of von Neumann and Connes to the use of non-commutative algebra in physics is naive, the situation is much more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/the-approach-of-von-neumann-and-connes-to-the-use-of-non-commutative/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/israel-gelfand-37964_algebra_the-approach-of-von-neumann-and-connes-t_3234506.jpg)

## Other authors on Algebra

- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b008/author-donald-trump-30060.jpg) Donald Trump 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra/donald-trump/)

## More by Israel Gelfand

> [They have the idea that non-commutative algebra should remind one of commutative algebra, but the former is more sophisticated. I believe that non-commutative algebra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/they-have-the-idea-that-non-commutative-algebra-should-remind-one-of/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [The older I get, the more I believe that at the bottom of most deep mathematical problems there is a combinatorial problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-believe-that-at-the-bottom-of-most-deep/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [In the Middle Age, in Germany, if you wanted to learn addition and multiplication, you could go to any university. But if you wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/in-the-middle-age-in-germany-if-you-wanted-to-learn-addition-and/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [Eugene Wigner wrote a famous essay on the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in natural sciences. He meant physics, of course. There is only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/eugene-wigner-wrote-a-famous-essay-on-the-unreasonable-effectiveness/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [One of the reasons we don't do as well as we should is that we are all over-taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/one-of-the-reasons-we-don-t-do-as-well-as-we-should-is-that-we-are/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [If you understand something, you understand that it is obvious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/if-you-understand-something-you-understand-that-it-is-obvious/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [People think they don’t understand math, but it’s all about how you explain it to them. If you ask a drunkard what number is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/people-think-they-don-t-understand-math-but-it-s-all-about-how-you/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [I used to say: "Everything is Representation Theory". Now I say: "Nothing is Representation Theory".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/i-used-to-say-everything-is-representation-theory-now-i-say-nothing/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [People (or students) do not have shortcomings, only uniquenesses. The goal of a good teacher is to turn these uniquenesses into advantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/people-or-students-do-not-have-shortcomings-only-uniquenesses-the/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [My life may be encapsulated by one of Graham Greene's "entertainments" titles: 'Loser Takes All'. Since I was thrown out of highschool for political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/my-life-may-be-encapsulated-by-one-of-graham-greene-s-entertainments/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [My seminar is for highschool students, decent undergraduates, bright graduates, and outstanding professors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/my-seminar-is-for-highschool-students-decent-undergraduates-bright/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

> [... The approach of von Neumann and Connes to the use of non-commutative algebra in physics is naive, the situation is much more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-gelfand/the-approach-of-von-neumann-and-connes-to-the-use-of-non-commutative/)

[Israel Gelfand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-gelfand/)

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