In passing, I firmly believe that research should be offset by a certain amount of teaching, if only as a change from the agony of research. The trouble, however, I freely admit, is that in practice you get either no teaching, or else far too much.

The infinitely competent can be uncreative.

The referee said it was not acceptable, but the Press considered they could not refuse to publish a book by a professor of the university.

The first test of potential in mathematics is whether you can get anything out of geometry.

A heavy warning used to be given that pictures are not rigorous; this has never had its bluff called and has permanently frightened its victims into playing for safety.

In passing, I firmly believe that research should be offset by a certain amount of teaching, if only as a change from the agony of research. The trouble, however, I freely admit, is that in practice you get either no teaching, or else far too much.

I listen only to Bach, Beethoven or Mozart. Life is too short to waste on other composers.