The 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.

A linguist would be shocked to learn that if a set is not closed this does not mean that it is open, or again that "E is dense in E" does not mean the same thing as "E is dense in itself".

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've been giving this lecture to first-year classes for over twenty-five years. You'd think they would begin to understand 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 infinitely competent can be uncreative.

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