To criticize mathematics for its abstraction is to miss the point entirely. Abstraction is what makes mathematics work. If you concentrate too closely on too limited an application of a mathematical idea, you rob the mathematician of his most important… — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
I don't want to convince you that mathematics is useful. It is, but utility is not the only criterion for value to humanity. Above all, I want to convince you that mathematics is beautiful, surprising, enjoyable, and interesting. In fact,… — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
“There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary numerals, and those who don't.” — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
If our brains were simple enough for us to understand them, we'd be so simple that we couldn't. — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
Our teaching of mathematics revolves around a fundamental conflict. Rightly or wrongly, students are required to master a series of mathematical concepts and techniques,… — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
Mathematics is the science of patterns, and nature exploits just about every pattern that there is. — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
Two centuries ago Carl Friedrich Gauss, one of the greatest mathematicians and a founder of number theory, described his brainchild as "the queen of… — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
“Only three constants are significant for star formation: the gravitational constant, the fine structure constant, and a constant that governs nuclear reaction rates.” — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
Religion hinges upon faith, politics hinges upon who can tell the most convincing lies or maybe just shout the loudest, but science hinges upon… — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
During the past fifty years, more mathematics has been created than in all previous ages put together. — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
The flapping of a single butterfly's wing today produces a tiny change in the state of the atmosphere. Over a period of time, what… — Ian Stewart Copy Share Image
