Importance Quote by David Hilbert

[On Cantor's work:] The finest product of mathematical genius and one of the supreme achievements of purely intellectual human activity.

— David Hilbert

Geometry is the most complete science.

— David Hilbert

Who of us would not be glad to lift the veil behind which the future lies hidden; to cast a glance at the next…

— David Hilbert

How thoroughly it is ingrained in mathematical science that every real advance goes hand in hand with the invention of sharper tools and simpler…

— David Hilbert

Galileo was no idiot. Only an idiot could believe that science requires martyrdom - that may be necessary in religion, but in time a…

— David Hilbert

If I were to awaken after having slept for a thousand years, my first question would be: Has the Riemann hypothesis been proven?

— David Hilbert

Geometry, like arithmetic, requires for its logical development only a small number of simple, fundamental principles. These fundamental principles are called the axioms of…

— David Hilbert

A mathematical theory is not to be considered complete until you have made it so clear that you can explain it to the first…

— David Hilbert

Besides it is an error to believe that rigour is the enemy of simplicity. On the contrary we find it confirmed by numerous examples…

— David Hilbert

Is mathematics doomed to suffer the same fate as other sciences that have split into separate branches?... Mathematics is, in my opinion, an indivisible…

— David Hilbert

One must be able to say at all times--instead of points, straight lines, and planes--tables, chairs, and beer mugs

— David Hilbert

I have tried to avoid long numerical computations, thereby following Riemann's postulate that proofs should be given through ideas and not voluminous computations.

— David Hilbert