Discipline Quote by Leonhard Euler
“In the meantime, most noble Sir, you have assigned this question to the geometry of position, but I am ignorant as to what this new discipline involves, and as to which types of problem Leibniz and Wolff expected to see expressed in this way.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence with a colleague, 1765
Euler questions his lack of knowledge about the new field of geometry of position and the expected problems of Leibniz and Wolff.
In simple terms: Euler admits ignorance of a new discipline and its problems.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge gaps and seek clarification.
Themes
humility
learning
philosophy of mathematics
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- teaching
- interdisciplinary study
Key Concepts
geometry of position
historical mathematics
intellectual curiosity
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can you take to learn an unfamiliar discipline?
- How do you handle uncertainty in scholarly work?
A Different Perspective
Understanding new fields may require extensive background study.
