The surprising thing about this paper is that a man who could write it would.
John Edensor LittlewoodA 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.
John Edensor LittlewoodThe theory of numbers is particularly liable to the accusation that some of its problems are the wrong sort of questions to ask. I do not myself think the danger is serious; either a reasonable amount of concentration leads to new ideas or methods of obvious interest, or else one just leaves the problem alone. "Perfect numbers" certainly never did any good, but then they never did any particular harm.
John Edensor LittlewoodThe first test of potential in mathematics is whether you can get anything out of geometry.
John Edensor Littlewood