--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A mathematical formula should never be…" description: "\"A mathematical formula should never be \"owned\" by anybody! Mathematics belong to God.\" — Donald Knuth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/donald-knuth-8762_formulas_a-mathematical-formula-should-never-be-o_2988232.jpg" --- # A mathematical formula should never be "owned" by anybody!… ![“A mathematical formula should never be "owned" by anybody! Mathematics belong to God.” quote by Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/donald-knuth-8762_formulas_a-mathematical-formula-should-never-be-o_2988232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/donald-knuth-8762_formulas_a-mathematical-formula-should-never-be-o_2988232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/donald-knuth-8762_formulas_a-mathematical-formula-should-never-be-o_2988232.jpg) > “A mathematical formula should never be "owned" by anybody! Mathematics belong to God.” [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mathematics belongs to a higher power and should not be owned by individuals. **In simple terms:** Math is universal, not owned. Key Takeaway Respect the shared nature of mathematics. Themes mathematics ownership philosophy Mood respectful thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - education - research - collaboration Key Concepts ethics metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect open knowledge? - What responsibilities come with shared discoveries? A Different Perspective Intellectual property concerns persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anybody Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anybody-mathematics-4682089/) [Belong God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong-god-284838/) [Formula Owned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formula-owned-4682090/) [Formulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formulas/) [Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mathematics Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics-belong-4682088/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [ Characteristically skeptical of the idea that living things would faithfully follow mathematical formulas, \[Robert Harper\] seized upon factors in corn which seemed to blend… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-thom/characteristically-skeptical-of-the-idea-that-living-things-would/) [Charles Thom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-thom/) > [There is a mathematical formula to why you got famous. 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Nobody can take that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-macleod/you-do-not-own-the-molecules-they-are-stardust-they-belong-to-god/) [Hugh MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-macleod/) > [Duty and to-day are ours; results and futurity belong to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-greeley/duty-and-to-day-are-ours-results-and-futurity-belong-to-god/) [Horace Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-greeley/) > [The word of the Lord is this: "Just bless those that persecute you and ask for Justice, for the battle does not belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-loren/the-word-of-the-lord-is-this-just-bless-those-that-persecute-you-and/) [Julia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-loren/) > [I don't belong to any religions, I really belong to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akiane-kramarik/i-don-t-belong-to-any-religions-i-really-belong-to-god/) [Akiane Kramarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akiane-kramarik/) ## More by Donald Knuth > [I'll never know everything. My life would be a lot worse if there was nothing I knew the answers about - and if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/i-ll-never-know-everything-my-life-would-be-a-lot-worse-if-there-was/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [“Nearly every example of faulty reasoning that has been published is accompanied by the phrase "of course" or its equivalent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/nearly-every-example-of-faulty-reasoning-that-has-been-published-is/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [ \[The Euclidean algorithm is\] the granddaddy of all algorithms, because it is the oldest nontrivial algorithm that has survived to the present day. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/the-euclidean-algorithm-is-the-granddaddy-of-all-algorithms-because/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [The process of preparing programs for a digital computer is especially attractive, not only because it can economically and scientifically rewarding, but also because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/the-process-of-preparing-programs-for-a-digital-computer-is/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [When certain concepts of TeX are introduced informally, general rules will be stated; afterwards you will find that the rules aren't strictly true. 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Yet we should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/we-should-forget-about-small-efficiencies-say-about-97-of-the-time/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [...One of the most important lessons, perhaps, is the fact that SOFTWARE IS HARD. From now on I shall have significantly greater respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/one-of-the-most-important-lessons-perhaps-is-the-fact-that-software/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [Always remember, however, that there’s usually a simpler and better way to do something than the first way that pops into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/always-remember-however-that-there-s-usually-a-simpler-and-better-way/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) [Explore all 78 Donald Knuth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) ## More Formulas quotes > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [A bad artist almost always tries to conceal his incompetence by whooping up a new formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-bad-artist-almost-always-tries-to-conceal-his-incompetence-by/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [You ask everybody you know: How long does it usually take to get over it? There are many formulas. One year for every year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-ask-everybody-you-know-how-long-does-it-usually-take-to-get-over/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [I think social networks are really working for the drivers, because we're able to talk directly to fans and they get first-hand information. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/i-think-social-networks-are-really-working-for-the-drivers-because-we/) [Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/) > [There is no secret formula--only a life committed to a close walk with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/there-is-no-secret-formula-only-a-life-committed-to-a-close-walk-with/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [This formula of Love is universal; all the laws of Nature are its servitors. Thus, gravitation, chemical affinity, electrical potential, and the rest -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/this-formula-of-love-is-universal-all-the-laws-of-nature-are-its/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The unique essence of being an artist is dying. Eveything looks the same. Now there’s a formula. 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