---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Topologists are not concerned with angles…"
description: "\"Topologists are not concerned with angles and lengths, which are clearly altered by stretching the rubber sheet, but they do care about more fundamenta..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/simon-singh-12419_about_topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angle_2628638.jpg"
---

#  Topologists are not concerned with angles and lengths…

![“Topologists are not concerned with angles and lengths, which are clearly altered by stretching the rubber sheet, but they do care about more fundamental properties.” quote by Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/simon-singh-12419_about_topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angle_2628638.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/simon-singh-12419_about_topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angle_2628638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/simon-singh-12419_about_topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angle_2628638.jpg)

> “Topologists are not concerned with angles and lengths, which are clearly altered by stretching the rubber sheet, but they do care about more fundamental properties.”

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Topologists focus on properties unchanged by deformation, not on measurements that vary with stretching.

**In simple terms:** Topologists study shape properties that stay the same when stretched.

Key Takeaway

Value invariants over superficial metrics.

Themes

mathematics geometry invariance

Mood

analytical curious

Type

academic educational

When to use this quote

- physics research
- material science
- computer graphics
- education
- design

Key Concepts

topology homeomorphism continuous deformation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you identify essential features in a changing system?
- What properties remain unchanged when you stretch a shape?

A Different Perspective

Topological invariants can be abstract and hard to visualize for beginners.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Altered Stretching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altered-stretching-2170647/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Fundamental Properties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-properties-2170646/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Rubber Sheet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rubber-sheet-2170645/) [Stretching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stretching/) [Stretching Rubber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stretching-rubber-2170644/) [Topologists Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/topologists-concerned-2170643/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/)

## Related quotes

> [A good analogy is stretching a rubber band. You can stretch and stretch and even feel the tension increase in the muscles in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-casti/a-good-analogy-is-stretching-a-rubber-band-you-can-stretch-and/)

[John L. Casti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-casti/)

> [“The empty highway behind looked like a stretching rubber band.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-anderson/the-empty-highway-behind-looked-like-a-stretching-rubber-band/)

[Edward Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-anderson/)

> [Even still, we run. We have not reached our average of 57.92 years without knowing that you run through it, and it hurts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/even-still-we-run-we-have-not-reached-our-average-of-57-92-years/)

[Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/)

> [Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/ours-is-not-the-task-of-fixing-the-entire-world-all-at-once-but-of/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [Basically it starts with four months of training, just basic stretching, kicking and punching. Then you come to the choreography and getting ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/basically-it-starts-with-four-months-of-training-just-basic/)

[Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/)

> [There is value in finding a combination of internal people, stretching them and seeing their potential, then marrying that with someone from the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-e-peterson/there-is-value-in-finding-a-combination-of-internal-people-stretching/)

[Sandra E. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-e-peterson/)

> [There was never any down side to casting friends over professionals. It was always fun seeing folks who never performed before stretching their wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-smith/there-was-never-any-down-side-to-casting-friends-over-professionals/)

[Kevin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-smith/)

> [Before, I would play a little hoops, a little tennis. Now it's more yoga, Pilates, stretching, some light weight work, push-ups, sit-ups, resistance things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/before-i-would-play-a-little-hoops-a-little-tennis-now-it-s-more-yoga/)

[Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/)

> [I do some weights and I do a lot of stretching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ditka/i-do-some-weights-and-i-do-a-lot-of-stretching/)

[Mike Ditka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ditka/)

> [I love to read. I love to stretch. In the morning, I get up, and if I'm not in a hurry, I will lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/i-love-to-read-i-love-to-stretch-in-the-morning-i-get-up-and-if-i-m/)

[Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/)

> [I actually find stretching so therapeutic. Sundays are my cardio and core days and I always have 15 mins stretch before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-atkinson/i-actually-find-stretching-so-therapeutic-sundays-are-my-cardio-and/)

[Gemma Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-atkinson/)

> [His (Lloyd Kaufman) string of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the ’80s has been cited as influence by Peter Jackson, the Farrelly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-lumenick/his-lloyd-kaufman-string-of-low-budget-lowbrow-horror-comedies/)

[Lou Lumenick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-lumenick/)

> [I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-perlis/i-think-that-it-s-extraordinarily-important-that-we-in-computer/)

[Alan Perlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-perlis/)

> [When you run in the morning, you gain time. It's like stretching 24 hours into 25. You may need less sleep and get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-lebow/when-you-run-in-the-morning-you-gain-time-it-s-like-stretching-24/)

[Fred Lebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-lebow/)

> [I train my muscles, and I do a lot of stretching, and try to kick higher. But for me, practicing kung-fu is a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chow/i-train-my-muscles-and-i-do-a-lot-of-stretching-and-try-to-kick/)

[Stephen Chow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chow/)

## More by Simon Singh

> [All I am saying is that if you want to answer a question, then we need to examine and weigh up the evidence. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/all-i-am-saying-is-that-if-you-want-to-answer-a-question-then-we-need/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [One of the common responses to criticism of psychics is to suggest that even if their powers are illusory, there is no harm done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/one-of-the-common-responses-to-criticism-of-psychics-is-to-suggest/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [Scientists aren't necessarily good communicators, because they aren't trained to be good communicators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/scientists-aren-t-necessarily-good-communicators-because-they-aren-t/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [Many of the worst cases that triggered the campaign for libel reform involved corporations suing critics, so these particular sections of the bill are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/many-of-the-worst-cases-that-triggered-the-campaign-for-libel-reform/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [The only consolation is that homeopathy can only be practised on animals by a fully trained vet or under the supervision of one, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/the-only-consolation-is-that-homeopathy-can-only-be-practised-on/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [“Pascal was even convinced that he could use his theories to justify a belief in God. He stated that ‘the excitement that a gambler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/pascal-was-even-convinced-that-he-could-use-his-theories-to-justify-a/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [When I attended a forum on libel reform at the British Academy in 2011, 20 figures ranging from law professors to leading libel law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/when-i-attended-a-forum-on-libel-reform-at-the-british-academy-in/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [People back down because the libel system is so utterly hostile to journalists, bloggers, scientists. The smart thing is not to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/people-back-down-because-the-libel-system-is-so-utterly-hostile-to/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [When I was finishing my PhD, I could just see people who were a bit quicker and brighter and smarter than me and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/when-i-was-finishing-my-phd-i-could-just-see-people-who-were-a-bit/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [In my case, I estimate that the members of the British Chiropractic Association have an annual turnover of £100m, and the BCA decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/in-my-case-i-estimate-that-the-members-of-the-british-chiropractic/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [Part of the problem is that if anybody has a gut reaction about an issue, they can go online and have it backed up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/part-of-the-problem-is-that-if-anybody-has-a-gut-reaction-about-an/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [Sunspots are hubs of intense magnetic activity and they trigger solar flares that launch charged particles, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation and radio waves at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/sunspots-are-hubs-of-intense-magnetic-activity-and-they-trigger-solar/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [“In April 1977, Rivest, Shamir and Adleman spent Passover at the house of a student, and had consumed significant amounts of Manischewitz wine before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/in-april-1977-rivest-shamir-and-adleman-spent-passover-at-the-house/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [The worlds of maths and science have a long history of naming important objects after people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/the-worlds-of-maths-and-science-have-a-long-history-of-naming/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

> [What shocks me is people who have no expertise championing a view that runs counter to the mainstream scientific consensus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/what-shocks-me-is-people-who-have-no-expertise-championing-a-view/)

[Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

[Explore all 55 Simon Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Topologists are not concerned with angles and lengths, which are clearly altered by stretching the rubber sheet, but they do care about more fundamental properties.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Simon Singh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angles-and-lengths-which-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angles-and-lengths-which-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/simon-singh-12419_about_topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angle_2628638.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/simon-singh-12419_about_topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angle_2628638.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d31/simon-singh-12419_about_topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angle_2628638.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Topologists are not concerned with angles and lengths, which are clearly altered by stretching the rubber…” — Simon Singh",
                "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": "Simon Singh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Topologists are not concerned with angles...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angles-and-lengths-which-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/topologists-are-not-concerned-with-angles-and-lengths-which-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
