--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it…" description: "\"Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it hasn't yet come up with a way to divide one tricycle between three small boys.\" — Earl Wilson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/earl-wilson-12541_boys_mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-h_2046003.png" --- # Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it hasn't yet come up… ![“Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it hasn't yet come up with a way to divide one tricycle between three small boys.” quote by Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/earl-wilson-12541_boys_mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-h_2046003.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/earl-wilson-12541_boys_mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-h_2046003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/earl-wilson-12541_boys_mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-h_2046003.png) > “Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it hasn't yet come up with a way to divide one tricycle between three small boys.” [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mathematics is powerful but can’t solve simple everyday division problems. **In simple terms:** Math can’t divide a tricycle. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of theory. Themes science limitations humor education Mood humorous lighthearted Type educational satirical When to use this quote - teaching math - resource allocation - family sharing Key Concepts mathematics logic Questions to Reflect On - What simple problems defy formal math? - How can we innovate beyond theory? A Different Perspective Practical problems need creative solutions beyond formulas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Come up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-up/) [Divide Tricycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide-tricycle-3831408/) [Divides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divides/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mathematics Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics-wonderful-3831410/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Small Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-boys-665975/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Tricycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricycle-1305228/) [Tricycle Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricycle-small-3831409/) [Tricycles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricycles/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [If we’re going to talk about transport, I would say that the great city is not the one that has highways, but one where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-penalosa/if-we-re-going-to-talk-about-transport-i-would-say-that-the-great/) [Enrique Penalosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-penalosa/) > [My daughter's tricycle said "Some Assembly Required." It came in a jar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/my-daughter-s-tricycle-said-some-assembly-required-it-came-in-a-jar/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [There is a tricycle in man. He knows, he feels and acts. He has emotion, intellect and will. He must develop head, heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/there-is-a-tricycle-in-man-he-knows-he-feels-and-acts-he-has-emotion/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [Mauricio Pellegrino has the pace of a tricycle with a flat tyre ridden by Luciano Pavarotti, and the turning speed of an oil tanker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-gill/mauricio-pellegrino-has-the-pace-of-a-tricycle-with-a-flat-tyre/) [Pete Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-gill/) > [Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/small-boys-become-big-men-through-the-influence-of-big-men-who-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The small boys came early to the hanging.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/the-small-boys-came-early-to-the-hanging/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Small boys were a mystery to Sylvie. The satisfaction they gained from throwing sticks or stones for hours on end, the obsessive collection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/small-boys-were-a-mystery-to-sylvie-the-satisfaction-they-gained-from/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [Things without defense: insects, kittens, small boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fussell/things-without-defense-insects-kittens-small-boys/) [Paul Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fussell/) > [“It is a curious fact that small boys are more terrified of their babysitters than small girls are. In part, this is because small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/it-is-a-curious-fact-that-small-boys-are-more-terrified-of-their/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [I used to think the only use for sport was to give small boys something else to kick besides me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-whitehorn/i-used-to-think-the-only-use-for-sport-was-to-give-small-boys/) [Katharine Whitehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-whitehorn/) > [Whatever good there is in small boys is usually based upon their admiration for girls of their own age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/whatever-good-there-is-in-small-boys-is-usually-based-upon-their/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Im a third wheel so hard I become a tricycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-a-third-wheel-so-hard-i-become-a-tricycle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was given a tricycle, aged eight, I'd disappear for hours and do my own thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/when-i-was-given-a-tricycle-aged-eight-i-d-disappear-for-hours-and-do/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [“I climb aboard my tricycle and pedal my heart to the stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-king/i-climb-aboard-my-tricycle-and-pedal-my-heart-to-the-stars/) [Harley King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-king/) > [My father was a tricycle driver before, then he became a farmer and a fisherman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidilyn-diaz/my-father-was-a-tricycle-driver-before-then-he-became-a-farmer-and-a/) [Hidilyn Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidilyn-diaz/) ## More by Earl Wilson > [If you think nobody cares if youre alive, try missing a couple of payments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/if-you-think-nobody-cares-if-youre-alive-try-missing-a-couple-of/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [If you wouldn't write it and sign it, don't say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/if-you-wouldn-t-write-it-and-sign-it-don-t-say-it/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [Middle Age - later than you think and sooner than you expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/middle-age-later-than-you-think-and-sooner-than-you-expect/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [Home, nowadays, is a place where part of the family waits till the rest of the family brings the car back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/home-nowadays-is-a-place-where-part-of-the-family-waits-till-the-rest/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [A woman may race to get a man a gift but it always ends in a tie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/a-woman-may-race-to-get-a-man-a-gift-but-it-always-ends-in-a-tie/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [You may not be able to read a doctor's handwriting and prescription, but you'll notice his bills are neatly typewritten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/you-may-not-be-able-to-read-a-doctor-s-handwriting-and-prescription/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [Feminists say 60 percent of the country's wealth is in the hands of women. They're letting men hold the other 40 percent because their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/feminists-say-60-percent-of-the-country-s-wealth-is-in-the-hands-of/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/an-economist-is-an-expert-who-will-know-tomorrow-why-the-things-he/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [Experience is what enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/experience-is-what-enables-you-to-recognize-a-mistake-when-you-make/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [An exhaustive study of police records shows that no woman has ever shot her husband while he was doing the dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/an-exhaustive-study-of-police-records-shows-that-no-woman-has-ever/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [To sell something, tell a woman it's a bargain; tell a man it's deductible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/to-sell-something-tell-a-woman-it-s-a-bargain-tell-a-man-it-s/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [The fastest way for a politician to become an elder statesman is to lose an election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/the-fastest-way-for-a-politician-to-become-an-elder-statesman-is-to/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [Snow and adolescence are the only problems that disappear if you ignore them long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/snow-and-adolescence-are-the-only-problems-that-disappear-if-you/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [Women's liberation will not be achieved until a woman can become paunchy and bald and still think she's attractive to the opposite sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/women-s-liberation-will-not-be-achieved-until-a-woman-can-become/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) > [Benjamin Franklin may have discovered electricity, but it was the man who invented the meter who made the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/benjamin-franklin-may-have-discovered-electricity-but-it-was-the-man/) [Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) [Explore all 53 Earl Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it hasn't yet come up with a way to divide one tricycle between three small boys.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Earl Wilson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-hasn-t-yet-come-up-with-a-way/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boys" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-hasn-t-yet-come-up-with-a-way/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/earl-wilson-12541_boys_mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-h_2046003.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/earl-wilson-12541_boys_mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-h_2046003.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35a/earl-wilson-12541_boys_mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-h_2046003.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it hasn't yet come up with a way to divide one tricycle between three…” — Earl Wilson", "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": "Earl Wilson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mathematics-a wonderful science, but it hasn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-hasn-t-yet-come-up-with-a-way/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/mathematics-a-wonderful-science-but-it-hasn-t-yet-come-up-with-a-way/#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 } } ] } ```