I read in the proof sheets of Hardy on Ramanujan: "As someone said, each of the positive integers was one of his personal friends." My reaction was, "I wonder who said that; I wish I had." In the next proof-sheets I read (what now stands), "It was Littlewood who said..."

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

I recall once saying that when I had given the same lecture several times I couldn't help feeling that they really ought to know it by now.

The higher mental activities are pretty tough and resilient, but it is a devastating experience if the drive does stop. Some people lose it in their forties and can only stop. In England they are a source of Vice-Chancellors.

The first lecture of each new year renews for most people a light stage fright.

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