If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living

A scientist worthy of his name, about all a mathematician, experiences in his work the same impression as an artist; his pleasure is as great and of the same nature.

Astronomy is useful because it raises us above ourselves; it is useful because it is grand; .... It shows us how small is man's body, how great his mind, since his intelligence can embrace the whole of this dazzling immensity, where his body is only an obscure point, and enjoy its silent harmony.

Tolstoi explains somewhere in his writings why, in his opinion, “Science for Science's sake” is an absurd conception. We cannot know all the facts, since they are practically infinite in number. We must make a selection. Is it not better to be guided by utility, by our practical, and more especially our moral, necessities?

The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.

Mathematical discoveries, small or great are never born of spontaneous generation.

It is not order only, but unexpected order, that has value.