---
title: "1 Intertwined Mathematicians Quotes By Gian-Carlo Rota"
description: "1 Intertwined Mathematicians quotes by Gian-Carlo Rota. Plus more from Gian-Carlo Rota and more Intertwined Mathematicians sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/gian-carlo-rota-19795_achievement_the-apex-of-mathematical-achievement-occ_483813.png"
---

> [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/the-apex-of-mathematical-achievement-occurs-when-two-or-more-fields/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/gian-carlo-rota-19795_achievement_the-apex-of-mathematical-achievement-occ_483813.png)

## More by Gian-Carlo Rota

> [Every lecture should state one main point and repeat it over and over, like a theme with variations. An audience is like a herd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/every-lecture-should-state-one-main-point-and-repeat-it-over-and-over/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [God created infinity, and man, unable to understand infinity, had to invent finite sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/god-created-infinity-and-man-unable-to-understand-infinity-had-to/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [Philosophers and psychiatrists should explain why it is that we mathematicians are in the habit of systematically erasing our footsteps. Scientists have always looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/philosophers-and-psychiatrists-should-explain-why-it-is-that-we/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [The lack of real contact between mathematics and biology is either a tragedy, a scandal or a challenge, it is hard to decide which.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/the-lack-of-real-contact-between-mathematics-and-biology-is-either-a/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [The apex of mathematical achievement occurs when two or more fields which were thought to be entirely unrelated turn out to be closely intertwined.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/the-apex-of-mathematical-achievement-occurs-when-two-or-more-fields/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [ \[In mathematics\] There are two kinds of mistakes. There are fatal mistakes that destroy a theory, but there are also contingent ones, which are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/in-mathematics-there-are-two-kinds-of-mistakes-there-are-fatal/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [Every field has its taboos. In algebraic geometry the taboos are (1) writing a draft that can be followed by anyone but two or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/every-field-has-its-taboos-in-algebraic-geometry-the-taboos-are-1/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/running-overtime-is-the-one-unforgivable-error-a-lecturer-can-make/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [Nature imitates mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/nature-imitates-mathematics/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/mathematics-is-the-study-of-analogies-between-analogies-all-science/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [If we have no idea why a statement is true, we can still prove it by induction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/if-we-have-no-idea-why-a-statement-is-true-we-can-still-prove-it-by/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/mathematicians-also-make-terrible-salesmen-physicists-can-discover/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [Stan Ulam was lazy, ... He talked too much ... He was self-centered ... . He had an overpowering personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/stan-ulam-was-lazy-he-talked-too-much-he-was-self-centered-he-had-an/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [Theorems are not to mathematics what successful courses are to a meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/theorems-are-not-to-mathematics-what-successful-courses-are-to-a-meal/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/combinatorics-is-an-honest-subject-no-ad-les-no-sigma-algebras-you/)

[Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/)

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