There are many questions which fools can ask that wise men cannot answer.

There are many questions which fools can ask that wise men cannot answer.

A great discovery solves a great problem, but there is a grain of discovery in the solution of any problem. Your problem may be modest, but if it challenges your curiosity and brings into play your inventive faculties, and if you solve it by your own means, you may experience the tension and enjoy the triumph of discovery.

There was a seminar for advanced students in Zürich that I was teaching and von Neumann was in the class. I came to a certain theorem, and I said it is not proved and it may be difficult. Von Neumann didn't say anything but after five minutes he raised his hand. When I called on him he went to the blackboard and proceeded to write down the proof. After that I was afraid of von Neumann.

Success in solving the problem depends on choosing the right aspect, on attacking the fortress from its accessible side.

The open secret of real success is to throw your whole personality into your problem.

A mathematics teacher is a midwife to ideas.