Trivial Quotes (3)
A chess problem is genuine mathematics, but it is in some way 'trivial' mathematics. However, ingenious and intricate, however original and surprising the moves, there is something essential lacking. Chess problems are unimportant The best mathematics is serious as well as beautiful—'important' ...
'A Mathematician's Apology', in James Roy Newman, The World of Mathematics (2000), 2029.
See also: | Beautiful (2) | Chess (8) | Essential (5) | Important (5) | Intricate (2) | Mathematics (221) | Problem (63) | Serious (3) | Surprise (8)
We were quite happy with Aristotle's cosmos. Personally, I preferred it. Fifty-five crystal spheres geared to God’s crankshaft is my idea of a satisfying universe. I can’t think of anything more trivial than the speed of light. Quarks, quasars—big bangs and black holes—who [cares]?
In the play, Acadia (1993), 61.
See also: | Aristotle (85) | Big Bang (15) | Black Hole (7) | Cosmos (6) | God (121) | Prefer (2) | Quark (3) | Quasar (4) | Speed Of Light (3) | Universe (138)
Whether we like it or not, the ultimate goal of every science is to become trivial, to become a well-controlled apparatus for the solution of schoolbook exercises or for practical application in the construction of engines.
'Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics', International Science and Technology (Oct 1963), 44.
