--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the dull and elementary parts of…" description: "\"“It is the dull and elementary parts of applied mathematics, as it is the dull and elementary parts of pure mathematics, that work for good or ill. Tim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/g-h-hardy-2-30074_applied_it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-a_1931595.jpg" --- # It is the dull and elementary parts of applied… ![“It is the dull and elementary parts of applied mathematics, as it is the dull and elementary parts of pure mathematics, that work for good or ill. Time may change all this. No one foresaw the applications of matrices and groups and other purely mathematical theories to modern physics, and it may…” quote by G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/g-h-hardy-2-30074_applied_it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-a_1931595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/g-h-hardy-2-30074_applied_it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-a_1931595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/g-h-hardy-2-30074_applied_it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-a_1931595.jpg) > ““It is the dull and elementary parts of applied mathematics, as it is the dull and elementary parts of pure mathematics, that work for good or ill. Time may change all this. No one foresaw the applications of matrices and groups and other purely mathematical theories to modern physics, and it may be that some of the 'highbrow' applied mathematics will become 'useful' in as unexpected a way; but the evidence so far points to the conclusion that, in one subject as in the other, it is what is commonplace and dull that counts for practical life.”” [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The seemingly trivial and routine parts of mathematics often become essential in real-world applications, even if they appear unremarkable at first. **In simple terms:** Dull math can become crucial later. Key Takeaway Value everyday mathematical work. Themes mathematics practicality humility Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - engineering design - physics research - algorithm development - education curriculum Key Concepts applied theory unexpected utility foundations Questions to Reflect On - How might current "boring" research shape future technology? - Which mundane topics could hide future breakthroughs? A Different Perspective Not every dull concept will become useful; some may remain obscure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Applied mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applied-mathematics/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Modern physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-physics/) [Practical life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-life/) ## Related quotes > [“I spoke of the 'real' mathematics of Fermat and other great mathematicians, the mathematics which has permanent aesthetic value, as for example the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/i-spoke-of-the-real-mathematics-of-fermat-and-other-great/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [ “Even a pure mathematician may find his appreciation of this geometry \[applied geometry\] quickened, since there is no mathematician so pure that he feels… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/even-a-pure-mathematician-may-find-his-appreciation-of-this-geometry/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“One rather curious conclusion emerges, that pure mathematics is on the whole distinctly more useful than applied. ... For what is useful above all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/one-rather-curious-conclusion-emerges-that-pure-mathematics-is-on-the/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“A good example of the archetypal ideas which the archetypes produce are natural numbers or integers. With the aid of the integers the shaping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-v-laurikainen/a-good-example-of-the-archetypal-ideas-which-the-archetypes-produce/) K. V. Laurikainen > [If one has really technically penetrated a subject, things that previously seemed in complete contrast, might be purely mathematical transformations of each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-von-neumann/if-one-has-really-technically-penetrated-a-subject-things-that/) [John Von Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-von-neumann/) > [As a purely mathematical fact, people who sleep less live more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/as-a-purely-mathematical-fact-people-who-sleep-less-live-more/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [I don't want to convince you that mathematics is useful. It is, but utility is not the only criterion for value to humanity. Above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-stewart/i-don-t-want-to-convince-you-that-mathematics-is-useful-it-is-but/) [Ian Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-stewart/) > [A large part of mathematics which becomes useful developed with absolutely no desire to be useful, and in a situation where nobody could possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-von-neumann/a-large-part-of-mathematics-which-becomes-useful-developed-with/) [John Von Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-von-neumann/) > [“The mathematician does not study pure mathematics because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it and he delights in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mathematician-does-not-study-pure-mathematics-because-it-is/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [“It might seem that the empirical philosopher is the slave of his material, but that the pure mathematician, like the musician, is a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-might-seem-that-the-empirical-philosopher-is-the-slave-of-his/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“This is not mathematics, it is theology. (On being exposed to Hilbert's work in invariant theory.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gordan/this-is-not-mathematics-it-is-theology-on-being-exposed-to-hilbert-s/) Paul Gordan > [The study of geometry is a petty and idle exercise of the mind, if it is applied to no larger system than the starry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-study-of-geometry-is-a-petty-and-idle-exercise-of-the-mind-if-it/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It was as though applied mathematics was my spouse, and pure mathematics was my secret lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-frenkel/it-was-as-though-applied-mathematics-was-my-spouse-and-pure/) [Edward Frenkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-frenkel/) > [I was fortunate to find an extraordinary mathematics and applied mathematics program in Toronto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kohn/i-was-fortunate-to-find-an-extraordinary-mathematics-and-applied/) [Walter Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kohn/) > [Applied mathematics will always need pure mathematics just as anteaters will always need ants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-halmos/applied-mathematics-will-always-need-pure-mathematics-just-as/) [Paul Halmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-halmos/) ## More by G.H. Hardy > [“The Greeks were the first mathematicians who are still ‘real’ to us to-day. Oriental mathematics may be an interesting curiosity, but Greek mathematics is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/the-greeks-were-the-first-mathematicians-who-are-still-real-to-us-to/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“If the theory of numbers could be employed for any practical and obviously honourable purpose, if it could be turned directly to the furtherance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/if-the-theory-of-numbers-could-be-employed-for-any-practical-and/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [ “Even a pure mathematician may find his appreciation of this geometry \[applied geometry\] quickened, since there is no mathematician so pure that he feels… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/even-a-pure-mathematician-may-find-his-appreciation-of-this-geometry/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“Immortality is often ridiculous or cruel: few of us would have chosen to be Og or Ananias or Gallio. Even in mathematics, history sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/immortality-is-often-ridiculous-or-cruel-few-of-us-would-have-chosen/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“One rather curious conclusion emerges, that pure mathematics is on the whole distinctly more useful than applied. ... For what is useful above all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/one-rather-curious-conclusion-emerges-that-pure-mathematics-is-on-the/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“The seriousness of a theorem, of course, does not lie in its consequences, which are merely the evidence for its seriousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/the-seriousness-of-a-theorem-of-course-does-not-lie-in-its/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“Judged by all practical standards, the value of my mathematical life is nil; and outside mathematics it is trivial anyhow. I have just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/judged-by-all-practical-standards-the-value-of-my-mathematical-life/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“I had better say something here about this question of age, since it is particularly important for mathematicians. No mathematician should ever allow himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/i-had-better-say-something-here-about-this-question-of-age-since-it/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“I still say to myself when I am depressed, and find myself forced to listen to pompous and tiresome people, 'Well, I have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/i-still-say-to-myself-when-i-am-depressed-and-find-myself-forced-to/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“The beauty of a mathematical theorem depends a great deal on its seriousness, as even in poetry the beauty of a line may depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/the-beauty-of-a-mathematical-theorem-depends-a-great-deal-on-its/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“The mathematician is in much more direct contact with reality. This may seem a paradox, since it is the physicist who deals with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/the-mathematician-is-in-much-more-direct-contact-with-reality-this/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“It (proof by contradiction) is a far finer gambit than any chess gambit: a chess player may offer the sacrifice of a pawn or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/it-proof-by-contradiction-is-a-far-finer-gambit-than-any-chess-gambit/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) > [“I spoke of the 'real' mathematics of Fermat and other great mathematicians, the mathematics which has permanent aesthetic value, as for example the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/i-spoke-of-the-real-mathematics-of-fermat-and-other-great/) [G.H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) [Explore all 14 G.H. Hardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/) ## More Applied quotes > [When I went to medical school, the term 'digital' applied only to rectal exams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/when-i-went-to-medical-school-the-term-digital-applied-only-to-rectal/) [Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) Will Advise > [I've taken the experiences that I've had in the theatre and applied them to film and television and now games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-ve-taken-the-experiences-that-i-ve-had-in-the-theatre-and-applied/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [You see the genius that Whitney Houston has as an interpreter of material, and you realize why genius can be applied to only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/you-see-the-genius-that-whitney-houston-has-as-an-interpreter-of/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [It wasn't until after college that I started writing. I had just applied randomly for jobs in the media and got one on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/it-wasn-t-until-after-college-that-i-started-writing-i-had-just/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I applied for funding to embark on an overseas field trip in Iceland, and spent six weeks there happily holed up in the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/i-applied-for-funding-to-embark-on-an-overseas-field-trip-in-iceland/) [Hannah Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kent/) > [Her death contributed to my later interest in studying biochemistry, an interest that has not been fulfilled in the sense that my accomplishments remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/her-death-contributed-to-my-later-interest-in-studying-biochemistry/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [I was very close to my father. At the age of ten I wanted to do plays, and my father was very encouraging. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-was-very-close-to-my-father-at-the-age-of-ten-i-wanted-to-do-plays/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [The same thing I applied to football, I applied to trying to be an actor and hopefully it came off well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/the-same-thing-i-applied-to-football-i-applied-to-trying-to-be-an/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [The notion of 'Queen's English' is usually applied to our pronunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-dent/the-notion-of-queen-s-english-is-usually-applied-to-our-pronunciation/) [Susie Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-dent/) > [Around 17 to 20 years, I became, myself, a poacher. And I wanted to do it, because - I believed - to continue my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneille-ewango/around-17-to-20-years-i-became-myself-a-poacher-and-i-wanted-to-do-it/) [Corneille Ewango](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneille-ewango/) > [Style is not something applied. It is something that permeates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/style-is-not-something-applied-it-is-something-that-permeates/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Always applied myself 100 per cent to what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ward-prowse/always-applied-myself-100-per-cent-to-what-i-m-doing/) [James Ward-Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ward-prowse/) Browse all 135 Applied quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is the dull and elementary parts of applied mathematics, as it is the dull and elementary parts of pure mathematics, that work for good or ill. Time may change all this. No one foresaw the applications of matrices and groups and other purely mathematical theories to modern physics, and it may be that some of the 'highbrow' applied mathematics will become 'useful' in as unexpected a way; but the evidence so far points to the conclusion that, in one subject as in the other, it is what is commonplace and dull that counts for practical life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G.H. Hardy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-applied-mathematics-as-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Applied" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-applied-mathematics-as-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/g-h-hardy-2-30074_applied_it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-a_1931595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/g-h-hardy-2-30074_applied_it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-a_1931595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/g-h-hardy-2-30074_applied_it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-a_1931595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is the dull and elementary parts of applied mathematics, as it is the dull and elementary parts of pure…” — G.H. Hardy", "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": "G.H. Hardy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is the dull and elementary...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-applied-mathematics-as-it-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy-2/it-is-the-dull-and-elementary-parts-of-applied-mathematics-as-it-is/#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 } } ] } ```