Mathematics may be compared to a mill of exquisite workmanship, which grinds your stuff to any degree of fineness; but, nevertheless, what you get out depends on what you put in; and as the grandest mill in the world will not extract wheat flour from peas cods, so pages of formulae will not get a definite result out of loose data.

Summary

This quote highlights the notion that mathematics, much like a finely crafted mill, has the ability to process and manipulate information to a high degree of precision. However, the outcome of this process is dependent on the quality of input provided. Just as the best mill cannot extract flour from unsuitable materials, complex mathematical formulas cannot yield precise results if given vague or insufficient data. In other words, the accuracy and reliability of mathematical outcomes are contingent upon the quality and specificity of the information provided as input.

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