--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But in the present century, thanks in…" description: "\"But in the present century, thanks in good part to the influence of Hilbert, we have come to see that the unproved postulates with which we start are p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/anonymous-1_arbitrary_but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-goo_2106748.jpg" --- # But in the present century, thanks in good part to the… ![“But in the present century, thanks in good part to the influence of Hilbert, we have come to see that the unproved postulates with which we start are purely arbitrary. They must be consistent, they had better lead to something interesting.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/anonymous-1_arbitrary_but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-goo_2106748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/anonymous-1_arbitrary_but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-goo_2106748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/anonymous-1_arbitrary_but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-goo_2106748.jpg) > “But in the present century, thanks in good part to the influence of Hilbert, we have come to see that the unproved postulates with which we start are purely arbitrary. They must be consistent, they had better lead to something interesting.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hilbert's influence shows that axioms are chosen for consistency and potential richness, not arbitrary truth. **In simple terms:** Axioms must be consistent and interesting. Key Takeaway Choose axioms that lead to fruitful theory. Themes mathematics foundations logic Mood analytical inquisitive critical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - research design - theory building - educational curricula - philosophical debate Key Concepts axiom selection consistency creativity Questions to Reflect On - What criteria should guide axiom choice? - How do we test 'interestingness'? A Different Perspective Axioms may still be limited by human intuition and existing frameworks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Hilbert Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hilbert-come-4235288/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Influence Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence-hilbert-4235285/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Postulates Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/postulates-start-4235287/) [Purely Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purely-arbitrary-4235286/) [Something interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-interesting/) [Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks/) [Unproved Postulates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unproved-postulates-4235284/) ## Related quotes > [Designs of purely arbitrary nature cannot be expected to last long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzo-tange/designs-of-purely-arbitrary-nature-cannot-be-expected-to-last-long/) [Kenzo Tange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzo-tange/) > [Paris Hilton said something interesting to me once: she said, 'I just tell everyone what they want to hear, and I do what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rex/paris-hilton-said-something-interesting-to-me-once-she-said-i-just/) [Simon Rex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rex/) > ['Lost in Translation' movie says something interesting about the alienation of being a stranger in a strange land, but also of being a celebrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/lost-in-translation-movie-says-something-interesting-about-the/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I've goofed, and there's been something interesting, but I haven't made use of it. It just doesn't interest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-ve-goofed-and-there-s-been-something-interesting-but-i-haven-t-made/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [It's good that people don't like you. That's good. It means that you are doing something interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/it-s-good-that-people-don-t-like-you-that-s-good-it-means-that-you/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [I've had pretty much the same crew for all the films that I've made, and I've managed to have really nice, calm, funny people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wheatley/i-ve-had-pretty-much-the-same-crew-for-all-the-films-that-i-ve-made/) [Ben Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wheatley/) > [We're proud to offer a wide variety of bloggers from a wide variety of fields. Some are well-known, some are unknown - but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/we-re-proud-to-offer-a-wide-variety-of-bloggers-from-a-wide-variety/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [Scary in the idea it could be a little overwhelming to have 70 or 100 clowns in a public space. Intriguing in that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-king/scary-in-the-idea-it-could-be-a-little-overwhelming-to-have-70-or-100/) [Carole King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-king/) > [I can really find something interesting about almost anyone I talk to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-can-really-find-something-interesting-about-almost-anyone-i-talk-to/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [There is something about saying, 'We always do this,' which helps keep the years together. Time is such an elusive thing that if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/there-is-something-about-saying-we-always-do-this-which-helps-keep/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [He said something interesting: he said that he thinks there is only free will when you are in time, in the present. He says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/he-said-something-interesting-he-said-that-he-thinks-there-is-only/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [You know being relevant or coming up with something interesting, funny to say about what's current is just as hard as it might ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/you-know-being-relevant-or-coming-up-with-something-interesting-funny/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [Art goes on in your head. If you said something interesting, that might be a title for a work of art and I'd write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/art-goes-on-in-your-head-if-you-said-something-interesting-that-might/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [A first principle not formally recognized by scientific methodologists: when you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-first-principle-not-formally-recognized-by-scientific/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [If you make something interesting, inevitably not everybody is going to like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rian-johnson/if-you-make-something-interesting-inevitably-not-everybody-is-going/) [Rian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rian-johnson/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“nothing is arbitrary in this whole world, there is a good reason behind each and everything…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-kumar/nothing-is-arbitrary-in-this-whole-world-there-is-a-good-reason/) [Nikhil Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-kumar/) > [Fundamentally, adopting rules without any estimate of the impact is the height of arbitrary decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-rielly/fundamentally-adopting-rules-without-any-estimate-of-the-impact-is/) [Michael O'Rielly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-rielly/) > [No arbitrary regulation, no act of the legislature, can add anything to the capital of the country; it can only force it into artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ramsay-mcculloch/no-arbitrary-regulation-no-act-of-the-legislature-can-add-anything-to/) [John Ramsay McCulloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ramsay-mcculloch/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Browse all 529 Arbitrary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But in the present century, thanks in good part to the influence of Hilbert, we have come to see that the unproved postulates with which we start are purely arbitrary. They must be consistent, they had better lead to something interesting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-good-part-to-the-influence-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arbitrary" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-good-part-to-the-influence-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/anonymous-1_arbitrary_but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-goo_2106748.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/anonymous-1_arbitrary_but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-goo_2106748.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/anonymous-1_arbitrary_but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-goo_2106748.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But in the present century, thanks in good part to the influence of Hilbert, we have come to see that the…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But in the present century, thanks...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-good-part-to-the-influence-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-in-the-present-century-thanks-in-good-part-to-the-influence-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```