We come finally, however, to the relation of the ideal theory to real world, or "real" probability. If he is consistent a man of the mathematical school washes his hands of applications. To someone who wants them he would say… — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary point and take details for granted: two trivialities omitted can add up to an impasse). The unpractised writer, even after the dawn of a conscience, gives him no such chance; before he can spot the point… — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share
A good mathematical joke is better, and better mathematics, than a dozen mediocre papers. — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
Mathematics is a dangerous profession; an appreciable proportion of us go mad. — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
The first test of potential in mathematics is whether you can get anything out of geometry. — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
A precisian professor had the habit of saying: "... quartic polynomial ax^4+bx^3+cx^2+dx+e , where e need not be the base of the natural logarithms." — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
I recall once saying that when I had given the same lecture several times I couldn't help feeling that they really ought to know… — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
The theory of numbers is particularly liable to the accusation that some of its problems are the wrong sort of questions to ask. I do not myself think the danger is serious; either a reasonable amount of concentration leads to new ideas or methods of obvious interest, or else one just leaves the problem alone. "Perfect numbers" certainly never did… — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share
The higher mental activities are pretty tough and resilient, but it is a devastating experience if the drive does stop. Some people lose it in their forties and can only stop. In England they are a source of Vice-Chancellors. — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share
The referee said it was not acceptable, but the Press considered they could not refuse to publish a book by a professor of the… — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
I constantly meet people who are doubtful, generally without due reason, about their potential capacity [as mathematicians]. The first test is whether you got anything out of geometry. To have disliked or failed to get on with other [mathematical] subjects need mean nothing; much drill and drudgery is unavoidable before they can get started, and bad teaching can make them… — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share
I read in the proof sheets of Hardy on Ramanujan: "As someone said, each of the positive integers was one of his personal friends."… — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
The surprising thing about this paper is that a man who could write it would. — John Edensor Littlewood Copy Share Image
