Hard Quote by John Edensor Littlewood
“Try a hard problem. You may not solve it, but you will prove something else.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Mathematics and Its History, 1964
Attempting difficult problems yields insight even if the solution remains elusive.
In simple terms: Hard problems teach valuable lessons
Key Takeaway
Embrace challenging problems for learning
Themes
education
mathematics
problem solving
Mood
inquisitive
reflective
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- academic study
- personal growth
Key Concepts
intuition
proof techniques
Questions to Reflect On
- What can be learned from a failed attempt?
- How to balance effort with realistic goals?
A Different Perspective
Not all attempts lead to success, and time may be wasted.
![“You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and [the problem's] past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it.” quote by Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/545/mao-zedong-1123_down-and_you-can-t-solve-a-problem-well-get-down_1288939.jpg)
![“I constantly meet people who are doubtful, generally without due reason, about their potential capacity [as mathematicians]. The first test is whether you got anything out of geometry. To have disliked or failed to get on with other [mathematical] subjects need mean nothing; much drill and…” quote by John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad0/john-edensor-littlewood-23851_born_i-constantly-meet-people-who-are-doubtfu_1210950.jpg)
