--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No other question has ever moved so…" description: "\"No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man; no other idea has so fruitfully stimulated his intellect; yet no other concept stands..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/david-hilbert-12585_clarification_no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-prof_536584.jpg" --- # No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit… ![“No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man; no other idea has so fruitfully stimulated his intellect; yet no other concept stands in greater need of clarification than that of the infinite” quote by David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/david-hilbert-12585_clarification_no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-prof_536584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/david-hilbert-12585_clarification_no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-prof_536584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/david-hilbert-12585_clarification_no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-prof_536584.jpg) > “No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man; no other idea has so fruitfully stimulated his intellect; yet no other concept stands in greater need of clarification than that of the infinite” [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hilbert argues that the concept of the infinite is the most demanding to clarify, surpassing all other profound ideas. **In simple terms:** The infinite is the hardest idea to define clearly. Key Takeaway Seek precise definitions for infinite concepts. Themes mathematics philosophy infinity clarity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical academic When to use this quote - education - research - theoretical work Key Concepts set theory logic foundations Questions to Reflect On - What does 'infinite' mean in your field? - How can we better teach abstract concepts? A Different Perspective Infinite concepts can be paradoxical and resist intuition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [The infinite! No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/the-infinite-no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-profoundly-the/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [“I rather be a stupid person wanting clarification and answers, in order to be wiser, than be a stupid person that blindly believes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-rather-be-a-stupid-person-wanting-clarification-and-answers-in/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Choice of aim is clearly a matter of clarification of values, especially on the choice between possible options.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/choice-of-aim-is-clearly-a-matter-of-clarification-of-values/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“Any expectation always needs to be clarified in detail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/any-expectation-always-needs-to-be-clarified-in-detail/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [The figure a poem makes. It begins in delight and ends in wisdom... in a clarification of life - not necessarily a great clarification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-figure-a-poem-makes-it-begins-in-delight-and-ends-in-wisdom-in-a/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [This is reverent. This is Star Wars, damn it. You don't screw around with it. The things that were improv'd or added that developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/this-is-reverent-this-is-star-wars-damn-it-you-don-t-screw-around/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [Since only an individual man can possess rights, the expression "individual rights"? is a redundancy (which one has to use for purposes of clarification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/since-only-an-individual-man-can-possess-rights-the-expression/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [One of the main tasks of adolescence is to achieve an identity--not necessarily a knowledge of who we are, but a clarification ofthe range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-main-tasks-of-adolescence-is-to-achieve-an-identity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Philosophy aims at the logical clarification of thoughts. Philosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity. A philosophical work consists essentially of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/philosophy-aims-at-the-logical-clarification-of-thoughts-philosophy/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [“Hey—let’s get something straight. It’s a vampire/alien/zombie/warlock hybrid flick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/hey-let-s-get-something-straight-it-s-a-vampire-alien-zombie-warlock/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [“QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION What do you mean by…? What is your main point? How does \_\_\_\_\_\_ relate to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_? Could you put that another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/questions-for-clarification-what-do-you-mean-by-what-is-your-main/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [“An extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof. ('On the Extraordinary: An Attempt at Clarification", Zetetic Scholar, Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 11, 1978)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcello-truzzi/an-extraordinary-claim-requires-extraordinary-proof-on-the/) Marcello Truzzi > [“If you have feelings for someone, let them know. It doesn’t matter if they can be in your life or not. Maybe, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-have-feelings-for-someone-let-them-know-it-doesn-t-matter-if/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [If there is something I don't know and I suspect that I need clarification and so does the viewer, I just ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/if-there-is-something-i-don-t-know-and-i-suspect-that-i-need/) [Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/) > [“Payne sought clarification. “Vertical or horizontal?” “Horizontal, of course.” “Sorry but I can’t help you.” “Will you pipe down for a minute? Naturally she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-lynskey/payne-sought-clarification-vertical-or-horizontal-horizontal-of/) [Ed Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-lynskey/) ## More by David Hilbert > [ \[On Cantor's work:\] The finest product of mathematical genius and one of the supreme achievements of purely intellectual human activity. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/on-cantor-s-work-the-finest-product-of-mathematical-genius-and-one-of/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [Geometry is the most complete science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/geometry-is-the-most-complete-science/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/who-of-us-would-not-be-glad-to-lift-the-veil-behind-which-the-future/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/how-thoroughly-it-is-ingrained-in-mathematical-science-that-every/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/galileo-was-no-idiot-only-an-idiot-could-believe-that-science/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/if-i-were-to-awaken-after-having-slept-for-a-thousand-years-my-first/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/geometry-like-arithmetic-requires-for-its-logical-development-only-a/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/a-mathematical-theory-is-not-to-be-considered-complete-until-you-have/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/besides-it-is-an-error-to-believe-that-rigour-is-the-enemy-of/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/is-mathematics-doomed-to-suffer-the-same-fate-as-other-sciences-that/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [One must be able to say at all times--instead of points, straight lines, and planes--tables, chairs, and beer mugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/one-must-be-able-to-say-at-all-times-instead-of-points-straight-lines/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/i-have-tried-to-avoid-long-numerical-computations-thereby-following/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [I do not want to presuppose anything as known. I see in my explanation in section 1 the definition of the concepts point, straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/i-do-not-want-to-presuppose-anything-as-known-i-see-in-my-explanation/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [The further a mathematical theory is developed, the more harmoniously and uniformly does its construction proceed, and unsuspected relations are disclosed between hitherto separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/the-further-a-mathematical-theory-is-developed-the-more-harmoniously/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [I didn't work especially hard at mathematics at school, because I knew that's what I'd be doing later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/i-didn-t-work-especially-hard-at-mathematics-at-school-because-i-knew/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) [Explore all 53 David Hilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) ## More Clarification quotes > [“Payne sought clarification. “Vertical or horizontal?” “Horizontal, of course.” “Sorry but I can’t help you.” “Will you pipe down for a minute? Naturally she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-lynskey/payne-sought-clarification-vertical-or-horizontal-horizontal-of/) [Ed Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-lynskey/) > [If there is something I don't know and I suspect that I need clarification and so does the viewer, I just ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-faulkner/if-there-is-something-i-don-t-know-and-i-suspect-that-i-need/) [Harris Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-faulkner/) > [“If you have feelings for someone, let them know. It doesn’t matter if they can be in your life or not. Maybe, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-have-feelings-for-someone-let-them-know-it-doesn-t-matter-if/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“An extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof. ('On the Extraordinary: An Attempt at Clarification", Zetetic Scholar, Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 11, 1978)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcello-truzzi/an-extraordinary-claim-requires-extraordinary-proof-on-the/) Marcello Truzzi > [“QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION What do you mean by…? What is your main point? How does \_\_\_\_\_\_ relate to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_? Could you put that another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/questions-for-clarification-what-do-you-mean-by-what-is-your-main/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [“Hey—let’s get something straight. It’s a vampire/alien/zombie/warlock hybrid flick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/hey-let-s-get-something-straight-it-s-a-vampire-alien-zombie-warlock/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [Philosophy aims at the logical clarification of thoughts. Philosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity. A philosophical work consists essentially of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/philosophy-aims-at-the-logical-clarification-of-thoughts-philosophy/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [One of the main tasks of adolescence is to achieve an identity--not necessarily a knowledge of who we are, but a clarification ofthe range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-main-tasks-of-adolescence-is-to-achieve-an-identity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Since only an individual man can possess rights, the expression "individual rights"? is a redundancy (which one has to use for purposes of clarification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/since-only-an-individual-man-can-possess-rights-the-expression/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [This is reverent. This is Star Wars, damn it. You don't screw around with it. The things that were improv'd or added that developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/this-is-reverent-this-is-star-wars-damn-it-you-don-t-screw-around/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [The figure a poem makes. It begins in delight and ends in wisdom... in a clarification of life - not necessarily a great clarification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-figure-a-poem-makes-it-begins-in-delight-and-ends-in-wisdom-in-a/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“Any expectation always needs to be clarified in detail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/any-expectation-always-needs-to-be-clarified-in-detail/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Choice of aim is clearly a matter of clarification of values, especially on the choice between possible options.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/choice-of-aim-is-clearly-a-matter-of-clarification-of-values/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“I rather be a stupid person wanting clarification and answers, in order to be wiser, than be a stupid person that blindly believes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-rather-be-a-stupid-person-wanting-clarification-and-answers-in/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Our ability to make a decision about the declaration is hampered by the British government being reluctant to give us the clarification which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/our-ability-to-make-a-decision-about-the-declaration-is-hampered-by/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) Browse all 53 Clarification quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man; no other idea has so fruitfully stimulated his intellect; yet no other concept stands in greater need of clarification than that of the infinite", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Hilbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-profoundly-the-spirit-of-man-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clarification" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-profoundly-the-spirit-of-man-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/david-hilbert-12585_clarification_no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-prof_536584.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/david-hilbert-12585_clarification_no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-prof_536584.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/david-hilbert-12585_clarification_no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-prof_536584.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man; no other idea has so fruitfully stimulated…” — David Hilbert", "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": "David Hilbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No other question has ever moved...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-profoundly-the-spirit-of-man-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/no-other-question-has-ever-moved-so-profoundly-the-spirit-of-man-no/#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 } } ] } ```