All that we can hope from these inspirations, which are the fruits of unconscious work, is to obtain points of departure for such calculations. As for the calculations themselves, they must be made in the second period of conscious work… — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge… — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
. . . by natural selection our mind has adapted itself to the conditions of the external world. It has adopted the geometry most… — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
If we knew exactly the laws of nature and the situation of the universe at the initial moment, we could predict exactly the situation… — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
Absolute space, that is to say, the mark to which it would be necessary to refer the earth to know whether it really moves,… — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
Absolute space, that is to say, the mark to which it would be necessary to refer the earth to know whether it really moves,… — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
A cat is witty, he has nerve, he knows how to do precisely the right thing at the right moment. — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
In the old days when people invented a new function they had something useful in mind. — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image
Mathematics has a threefold purpose. It must provide an instrument for the study of nature. But this is not all: it has a philosophical… — Henri Poincare Copy Share Image