Every phenomenon, however trifling it be, has a cause, and a mind infinitely powerful, and infinitely well-informed concerning the laws of nature could have foreseen it from the beginning of the ages. If a being with such a mind existed, we could play no game of chance with him; we should always lose.

When the physicists ask us for the solution of a problem, it is not drudgery that they impose on us, on the contrary, it is us who owe them thanks.

Logic sometimes makes monsters. For half a century we have seen a mass of bizarre functions which appear to be forced to resemble as little as possible honest functions which serve some purpose.

Geometry is the art of correct reasoning from incorrectly drawn figures.

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

One geometry cannot be more true than another; it can only be more convenient.

It is the simple hypotheses of which one must be most wary; because these are the ones that have the most chances of passing unnoticed.