David Hilbert Quotes

A collection of quotes by David Hilbert.

David Hilbert was a prominent German mathematician who lived from 1862 to 1943. He made significant contributions to various areas of mathematics, including algebra, number theory, mathematical physics, and mathematical logic. Hilbert's work played a crucial role in the development of 20th-century mathematics.

Born in Königsberg, Germany (present-day Kaliningrad, Russia), Hilbert displayed exceptional mathematical abilities from an early age. He attended the University of Königsberg, where he studied under renowned mathematicians and eventually earned his doctorate in 1885. After teaching at various universities, Hilbert became a professor at the University of Göttingen in 1895, where he worked for the remainder of his career.

Hilbert's most influential work was in the field of mathematical logic. He formulated a list of 23 unsolved mathematical problems during a landmark lecture in 1900, known as Hilbert's Problems. This list shaped the agenda for mathematical research in the following century. Hilbert's Problems covered a wide range of areas, including the foundations of mathematics, algebraic number theory, and geometry.

Beyond his contributions to pure mathematics, Hilbert also made significant strides in physics, particularly in mathematical physics. He developed integral equations that are crucial to quantum mechanics and photonics.

David Hilbert is widely regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. His ideas and approaches have influenced generations of mathematicians, and his impact on the field is immeasurable. He passed away in Göttingen, Germany, in 1943, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of mathematics.

A mathematical problem should be difficult in order to entic

A mathematical problem should be difficult in order to entice us, yet not completely inaccessible, lest it mock at our efforts. It should be to us a guide post on the mazy paths to hidden truths, and ultimately a reminder of our pleasure in the successful solution.

David Hilbert

Truth Order Effort

Galileo was no idiot. Only an idiot could believe that scien

Galileo was no idiot. Only an idiot could believe that science requires martyrdom - that may be necessary in religion, but in time a scientific result will establish itself.

David Hilbert

Religion

The further a mathematical theory is developed, the more har

The further a mathematical theory is developed, the more harmoniously and uniformly does its construction proceed, and unsuspected relations are disclosed between hitherto separated branches of the science.

David Hilbert

Science

If one were to bring ten of the wisest men in the world toge

If one were to bring ten of the wisest men in the world together and ask them what was the most stupid thing in existence, they would not be able to discover anything so stupid as astrology.

David Hilbert

Men

We can see the Divine in each speck of dust, but that doesn'

We can see the Divine in each speck of dust, but that doesn't stop us from wiping it away with a wet sponge. The Divine doesn't disappear; it's transformed into the clean surface.

Paulo Coelho


Mathematical science is in my opinion an indivisible whole,

Mathematical science is in my opinion an indivisible whole, an organism whose vitality is conditioned upon the connection of its parts.

David Hilbert

Science