--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mathematicians - for what they do - are…" description: "\"Mathematicians - for what they do - are really poorly rewarded. And it's a very competitive field, almost as bad as being a concert pianist.\" — Gian-Ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/gian-carlo-rota-19795_concerts_mathematicians-for-what-they-do-are-real_2106694.png" --- # Mathematicians - for what they do - are really poorly… ![“Mathematicians - for what they do - are really poorly rewarded. And it's a very competitive field, almost as bad as being a concert pianist.” quote by Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/gian-carlo-rota-19795_concerts_mathematicians-for-what-they-do-are-real_2106694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/gian-carlo-rota-19795_concerts_mathematicians-for-what-they-do-are-real_2106694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/gian-carlo-rota-19795_concerts_mathematicians-for-what-they-do-are-real_2106694.png) > “Mathematicians - for what they do - are really poorly rewarded. And it's a very competitive field, almost as bad as being a concert pianist.” [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that mathematicians receive low rewards and face intense competition, comparable to elite musicians **In simple terms:** Math careers are underpaid and highly competitive Key Takeaway recognize the challenges of academic math careers Themes career competition reward academia Mood reflective somber Type sociological inspirational When to use this quote - grant applications - career counseling - university hiring - policy advocacy Key Concepts incentive structures talent scarcity professional prestige Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions better value mathematical work? - What alternative reward systems could support mathematicians? A Different Perspective Funding scarcity and limited public appreciation can deter talent ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concert Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concert-pianist-699754/) [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Mathematician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematician/) [Mathematicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematicians/) [Mathematicians Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematicians-really-4233410/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianist/) [Poorly Rewarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poorly-rewarded-4233411/) [Really Poorly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-poorly-4233412/) ## Related quotes > [ Sure, some \[teachers\] could give the standard limit definitions, but they \[the students\] clearly did not understand the definitions - and it would be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-devlin/sure-some-teachers-could-give-the-standard-limit-definitions-but-they/) [Keith Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-devlin/) > [I do sarcasm really poorly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-murphy/i-do-sarcasm-really-poorly/) [Brittany Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-murphy/) > [When I was young, I played the piano and studied classical music and jazz. 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So, both my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/my-parents-told-me-i-would-become-a-doctor-and-then-in-my-spare-time/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [I wanted to be a concert pianist at Carnegie Hall; that is what I wanted to do from really early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-nelson/i-wanted-to-be-a-concert-pianist-at-carnegie-hall-that-is-what-i/) [Kirsten Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-nelson/) > [That's a very high goal to have, study eight hours a day to be a concert pianist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/that-s-a-very-high-goal-to-have-study-eight-hours-a-day-to-be-a/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I decided during my teens that I wasn't going to have the life of a concert pianist, much to the chagrin of a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cy-coleman/i-decided-during-my-teens-that-i-wasn-t-going-to-have-the-life-of-a/) [Cy Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cy-coleman/) ## More by Gian-Carlo Rota > [Every lecture should state one main point and repeat it over and over, like a theme with variations. An audience is like a herd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/every-lecture-should-state-one-main-point-and-repeat-it-over-and-over/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [God created infinity, and man, unable to understand infinity, had to invent finite sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/god-created-infinity-and-man-unable-to-understand-infinity-had-to/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Philosophers and psychiatrists should explain why it is that we mathematicians are in the habit of systematically erasing our footsteps. Scientists have always looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/philosophers-and-psychiatrists-should-explain-why-it-is-that-we/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [The lack of real contact between mathematics and biology is either a tragedy, a scandal or a challenge, it is hard to decide which.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/the-lack-of-real-contact-between-mathematics-and-biology-is-either-a/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [The apex of mathematical achievement occurs when two or more fields which were thought to be entirely unrelated turn out to be closely intertwined.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/the-apex-of-mathematical-achievement-occurs-when-two-or-more-fields/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [ \[In mathematics\] There are two kinds of mistakes. There are fatal mistakes that destroy a theory, but there are also contingent ones, which are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/in-mathematics-there-are-two-kinds-of-mistakes-there-are-fatal/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Every field has its taboos. In algebraic geometry the taboos are (1) writing a draft that can be followed by anyone but two or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/every-field-has-its-taboos-in-algebraic-geometry-the-taboos-are-1/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Running overtime is the one unforgivable error a lecturer can make. After fifty minutes (one microcentury as von Neumann used to say) everybody's attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/running-overtime-is-the-one-unforgivable-error-a-lecturer-can-make/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Nature imitates mathematics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/nature-imitates-mathematics/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Mathematics is the study of analogies between analogies. All science is. Scientists want to show that things that don't look alike are really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/mathematics-is-the-study-of-analogies-between-analogies-all-science/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [If we have no idea why a statement is true, we can still prove it by induction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/if-we-have-no-idea-why-a-statement-is-true-we-can-still-prove-it-by/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Mathematicians also make terrible salesmen. Physicists can discover the same thing as a mathematician and say 'We've discovered a great new law of nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/mathematicians-also-make-terrible-salesmen-physicists-can-discover/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Stan Ulam was lazy, ... He talked too much ... He was self-centered ... . He had an overpowering personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/stan-ulam-was-lazy-he-talked-too-much-he-was-self-centered-he-had-an/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Theorems are not to mathematics what successful courses are to a meal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/theorems-are-not-to-mathematics-what-successful-courses-are-to-a-meal/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Combinatorics is an honest subject. No adèles, no sigma-algebras. You count balls in a box, and you either have the right number or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/combinatorics-is-an-honest-subject-no-ad-les-no-sigma-algebras-you/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) [Explore all 32 Gian-Carlo Rota quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) ## More Concerts quotes > [The live concert industry has become corporate-ized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-farrell/the-live-concert-industry-has-become-corporate-ized/) [Perry Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-farrell/) > [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [In fact, when Jaan wanted to be a part of some of my live concerts, I let him join me for a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/in-fact-when-jaan-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-some-of-my-live-concerts-i/) [Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/) [Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/) > [Congratulations to each and every one of you for the concert last night in New York and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-ormandy/congratulations-to-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-the-concert-last/) [Eugene Ormandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-ormandy/) > [My favourite song of Elton's is... it's a tricky one for me. I'm a proper fan and I've probably seen him in concert about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lucas/my-favourite-song-of-elton-s-is-it-s-a-tricky-one-for-me-i-m-a-proper/) [Matt Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lucas/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. If you play for a dead audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-ve-always-said-about-50-of-what-happens-at-a-concert-has-to-do-with/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My first concert isn't that cool or ironic. 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I went with her to Symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/my-ex-wife-was-trying-to-be-nice-once-so-she-took-me-to-a-concert-in/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/do-not-have-your-concert-first-and-then-tune-your-instrument/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) [Browse all 988 Concerts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mathematicians - for what they do - are really poorly rewarded. 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