In the last two months I have been very busy with my own mathematical speculations, which have cost me much time, without my having reached my original goal. Again and again I was enticed by the frequently interesting prospects from one direction to the other, sometimes even by will-o'-the-wisps, as is not rare in mathematic speculations.

The Infinite is only a manner of speaking.

The total number of Dirichlet's publications is not large: jewels are not weighed on a grocery scale.

The enchanting charms of this sublime science reveal only to those who have the courage to go deeply into it.

To the distracting occupations belong especially my lecture courses which I am holding this winter for the first time, and which now cost much more of my time than I like. Meanwhile I hope that the second time this expenditure of time will be much less, otherwise I would never be able to reconcile myself to it, even practical (astronomical) work must give far more satisfaction than if one brings up to B a couple more mediocre heads which otherwise would have stopped at A.

There have been only three epoch-making mathematicians, Archimedes, Newton, and Eisenstein.

If others would but reflect on mathematical truths as deeply and as continuously as I have, they would make my discoveries.