Euclid Quote by Madeleine L'Engle
““In other words, to put it into Euclid, or old-fashioned plane geometry, a straight line is not the shortest distance between two points.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Wrinkle in Time, 1962
Straight lines aren't always the shortest path between points.
In simple terms: Shortest path may be curved.
Key Takeaway
Consider alternative routes.
Themes
geometry
philosophy
problem solving
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- engineering design
- travel planning
- strategic decision making
Key Concepts
non-Euclidean geometry
optimization
creative thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you taken a longer route for better results?
- What assumptions limit your problem solving?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes the simplest solution isn’t optimal.
![“As to writing another book on geometry [to replace Euclid] the middle ages would have as soon thought of composing another New Testament.” quote by Augustus De Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed4/augustus-de-morgan-18916_age_as-to-writing-another-book-on-geometry-t_584350.jpg)
![“[T]he 47th proposition in Euclid might now be voted down with as much ease as any proposition in politics; and therefore if Lord Hawkesbury hates the abstract truths of science as much as he hates concrete truth in human affairs, now is his time for getting rid of the multiplication table, and…” quote by Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/709/sydney-smith-6523_abstract_t-he-47th-proposition-in-euclid-might-no_463551.jpg)
