--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Math is the language of the universe. So…" description: "\"Math is the language of the universe. So the more equations you know, the more you can converse with the cosmos.\" — Neil deGrasse Tyson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so_204146.png" --- # Math is the language of the universe. So the more… ![“Math is the language of the universe. So the more equations you know, the more you can converse with the cosmos.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so_204146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so_204146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so_204146.png) > “Math is the language of the universe. So the more equations you know, the more you can converse with the cosmos.” [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mathematics is portrayed as a universal language enabling deeper communication with the cosmos through equations. **In simple terms:** Math is the universe’s language. Key Takeaway Learn math to understand the cosmos. Themes science cosmology education Mood inspiring curious Type scientific motivational When to use this quote - STEM education - research - public outreach Key Concepts mathematics universal language communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you make math accessible? - What does “converse with the cosmos” mean to you? A Different Perspective Math can be intimidating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Cosmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmos/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind blowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-blowing/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“completely insane algebraic equations?” “You know us too well.” Jess sat down in her”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/completely-insane-algebraic-equations-you-know-us-too-well-jess-sat/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [We need to know math to be a good scientist, but math is a language, and we need to learn the language because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hammel/we-need-to-know-math-to-be-a-good-scientist-but-math-is-a-language/) [Heidi Hammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-hammel/) > [“In Korea, math moved fluidly. When the teacher asked questions, the kids answered as if math were a language that they knew by heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-ripley/in-korea-math-moved-fluidly-when-the-teacher-asked-questions-the-kids/) [Amanda Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-ripley/) > [“Why did math matter so much? Some reasons were practical: More and more jobs required familiarity with probability, statistics, and geometry. The other reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-ripley/why-did-math-matter-so-much-some-reasons-were-practical-more-and-more/) [Amanda Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-ripley/) > [I dislike math, yet I respect and appreciate the fact that math is the language of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-dislike-math-yet-i-respect-and-appreciate-the-fact-that-math-is-the/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [Math is the language of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/math-is-the-language-of-the-universe/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [Math is a language that you use to describe statistics, but really it's about collecting information and putting it in an order that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-stamile/math-is-a-language-that-you-use-to-describe-statistics-but-really-it/) Lauren Stamile > [The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-good-thing-about-science-is-that-it-s-true-whether-or-not-you/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Would a NASA reality show "Lunar Shore" be more popular than "Jersey Shore?" Civilization's future depends on that answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/would-a-nasa-reality-show-lunar-shore-be-more-popular-than-jersey/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We spend the first year of a child's life teaching it to walk and talk and the rest of its life to shut up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-spend-the-first-year-of-a-child-s-life-teaching-it-to-walk-and/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Let us not fool ourselves into thinking we went to the Moon because we are pioneers, or discoverers, or adventurers. We went to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/let-us-not-fool-ourselves-into-thinking-we-went-to-the-moon-because/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Need a distraction today? Not only does 12 + 1 = 11 + 2, but the letters "twelve plus one" rearrange to give you "eleven plus two."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/need-a-distraction-today-not-only-does-12-1-11-2-but-the-letters/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Some air you inhale was exhaled by Cleopatra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/some-air-you-inhale-was-exhaled-by-cleopatra/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Whether or not you can never become great at something, you can always become better at it. Don't ever forget that! And don’t say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/whether-or-not-you-can-never-become-great-at-something-you-can-always/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/knowing-how-to-think-empowers-you-far-beyond-those-who-know-only-what/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Neil deGrasse Tyson > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The Pacific is the best toilet for satellites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-pacific-is-the-best-toilet-for-satellites/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If you seek only easy problems to solve, then ultimately, there'll be nothing about you to distinguish yourself from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-seek-only-easy-problems-to-solve-then-ultimately-there-ll-be/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Explore all 1,143 Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More Astronomy quotes > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Wen daylight turns to a darkened hue, D lovely stars hinting at u, ur heart beat tells u something true, That some 1 badly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/wen-daylight-turns-to-a-darkened-hue-d-lovely-stars-hinting-at-u-ur/) Butterfly\_Kisses > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [From the grasses in the field to the stars in the sky, each one is doing just that; and there is such profound peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/from-the-grasses-in-the-field-to-the-stars-in-the-sky-each-one-is/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [“If there are no stars on the sky, you must try to be happy with the shining streetlights!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-there-are-no-stars-on-the-sky-you-must-try-to-be-happy-with-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) Nicole Gentile > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." ... quote has been credited to Les Brown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylviek/shoot-for-the-moon-even-if-you-miss-it-you-will-land-among-the-stars/) Sylviek > [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 6,190 Astronomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Math is the language of the universe. So the more equations you know, the more you can converse with the cosmos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil deGrasse Tyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so-the-more-equations-you-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Astronomy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so-the-more-equations-you-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so_204146.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so_204146.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astronomy_math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so_204146.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Math is the language of the universe. So the more equations you know, the more you can converse with the…” — Neil deGrasse Tyson", "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": "Neil deGrasse Tyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Math is the language of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so-the-more-equations-you-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/math-is-the-language-of-the-universe-so-the-more-equations-you-know/#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 } } ] } ```