William Thurston's quote?












5












$begingroup$



Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or
algorithms: it is about understanding.




Is this from Thurston? If yes, where and when it has been said. I've checked "ON PROOF AND PROGRESS IN MATHEMATICS" and it is not there.






reference-request







share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Thurston wrote something quite similar on this very site: mathoverflow.net/a/44213/4832 "The product of mathematics is clarity and understanding. Not theorems, by themselves."
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    16 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge The quote is wildly attributed to Thurston. I was about to "quote" it in a paper that I failed to find the source.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    16 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Zeilberger says that it's on page 76 of Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World by Mariana Cook. The book doesn't seem to be in Google Books so you may have to visit a library to confirm.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge Great. I'll do. Meanwhile, I am not using it :)
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago
















5












$begingroup$



Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or
algorithms: it is about understanding.




Is this from Thurston? If yes, where and when it has been said. I've checked "ON PROOF AND PROGRESS IN MATHEMATICS" and it is not there.






reference-request







share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Thurston wrote something quite similar on this very site: mathoverflow.net/a/44213/4832 "The product of mathematics is clarity and understanding. Not theorems, by themselves."
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    16 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge The quote is wildly attributed to Thurston. I was about to "quote" it in a paper that I failed to find the source.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    16 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Zeilberger says that it's on page 76 of Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World by Mariana Cook. The book doesn't seem to be in Google Books so you may have to visit a library to confirm.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge Great. I'll do. Meanwhile, I am not using it :)
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago














5












5








5


4



$begingroup$



Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or
algorithms: it is about understanding.




Is this from Thurston? If yes, where and when it has been said. I've checked "ON PROOF AND PROGRESS IN MATHEMATICS" and it is not there.






reference-request







share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$





Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or
algorithms: it is about understanding.




Is this from Thurston? If yes, where and when it has been said. I've checked "ON PROOF AND PROGRESS IN MATHEMATICS" and it is not there.






reference-request




reference-request






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked 16 hours ago









Amir AsghariAmir Asghari

1,22422848




1,22422848








  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Thurston wrote something quite similar on this very site: mathoverflow.net/a/44213/4832 "The product of mathematics is clarity and understanding. Not theorems, by themselves."
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    16 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge The quote is wildly attributed to Thurston. I was about to "quote" it in a paper that I failed to find the source.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    16 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Zeilberger says that it's on page 76 of Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World by Mariana Cook. The book doesn't seem to be in Google Books so you may have to visit a library to confirm.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge Great. I'll do. Meanwhile, I am not using it :)
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago














  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Thurston wrote something quite similar on this very site: mathoverflow.net/a/44213/4832 "The product of mathematics is clarity and understanding. Not theorems, by themselves."
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    16 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge The quote is wildly attributed to Thurston. I was about to "quote" it in a paper that I failed to find the source.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    16 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Zeilberger says that it's on page 76 of Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World by Mariana Cook. The book doesn't seem to be in Google Books so you may have to visit a library to confirm.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    @NateEldredge Great. I'll do. Meanwhile, I am not using it :)
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago








3




3




$begingroup$
Thurston wrote something quite similar on this very site: mathoverflow.net/a/44213/4832 "The product of mathematics is clarity and understanding. Not theorems, by themselves."
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
16 hours ago






$begingroup$
Thurston wrote something quite similar on this very site: mathoverflow.net/a/44213/4832 "The product of mathematics is clarity and understanding. Not theorems, by themselves."
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
16 hours ago














$begingroup$
@NateEldredge The quote is wildly attributed to Thurston. I was about to "quote" it in a paper that I failed to find the source.
$endgroup$
– Amir Asghari
16 hours ago




$begingroup$
@NateEldredge The quote is wildly attributed to Thurston. I was about to "quote" it in a paper that I failed to find the source.
$endgroup$
– Amir Asghari
16 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Zeilberger says that it's on page 76 of Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World by Mariana Cook. The book doesn't seem to be in Google Books so you may have to visit a library to confirm.
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
15 hours ago






$begingroup$
Zeilberger says that it's on page 76 of Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World by Mariana Cook. The book doesn't seem to be in Google Books so you may have to visit a library to confirm.
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
15 hours ago














$begingroup$
@NateEldredge Great. I'll do. Meanwhile, I am not using it :)
$endgroup$
– Amir Asghari
15 hours ago




$begingroup$
@NateEldredge Great. I'll do. Meanwhile, I am not using it :)
$endgroup$
– Amir Asghari
15 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















8












$begingroup$

This quote is from the book "Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World" (Mariana Cook and Robert Clifford Gunning, Princeton University Press, 2009).



https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jc8h2



"Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding. I’ve loved mathematics all my life, although I often doubted that mathematics would turn out to be my life’s..."






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Thanks :) I am surprised why my search before posting the question didn't lead me to this book.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago



















4












$begingroup$

I'll post this as an answer since it's too long for a comment. Even though it does not directly answer the question, I would like to mention that a related quote appears in a very interesting dialogue between Rota and Sharp in 1985 (https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/doe/lanl/pubs/00326965.pdf):




ROTA: Mathematics is the study of analogies between analogies. All
science is. Scientists always want to show that things that don’t look
alike are really the same. That’s one of their innermost Freudian
motivations. In fact, that’s what we mean by understanding.



SHARP: You often hear that the purpose of a scientific theory is to
predict, That’s not correct. The purpose is understanding. Prediction
is one way to test whether our understanding is correct. Simplicity,
scope, and beauty are as important as prediction in judging whether a
theory leads to understanding.







share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    mathoverflow.net/questions/13832
    $endgroup$
    – Steve Huntsman
    9 hours ago











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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









8












$begingroup$

This quote is from the book "Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World" (Mariana Cook and Robert Clifford Gunning, Princeton University Press, 2009).



https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jc8h2



"Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding. I’ve loved mathematics all my life, although I often doubted that mathematics would turn out to be my life’s..."






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Thanks :) I am surprised why my search before posting the question didn't lead me to this book.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago
















8












$begingroup$

This quote is from the book "Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World" (Mariana Cook and Robert Clifford Gunning, Princeton University Press, 2009).



https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jc8h2



"Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding. I’ve loved mathematics all my life, although I often doubted that mathematics would turn out to be my life’s..."






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Thanks :) I am surprised why my search before posting the question didn't lead me to this book.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago














8












8








8





$begingroup$

This quote is from the book "Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World" (Mariana Cook and Robert Clifford Gunning, Princeton University Press, 2009).



https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jc8h2



"Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding. I’ve loved mathematics all my life, although I often doubted that mathematics would turn out to be my life’s..."






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$



This quote is from the book "Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World" (Mariana Cook and Robert Clifford Gunning, Princeton University Press, 2009).



https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2jc8h2



"Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding. I’ve loved mathematics all my life, although I often doubted that mathematics would turn out to be my life’s..."







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered 15 hours ago









Renaud DreyerRenaud Dreyer

96111




96111












  • $begingroup$
    Thanks :) I am surprised why my search before posting the question didn't lead me to this book.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Thanks :) I am surprised why my search before posting the question didn't lead me to this book.
    $endgroup$
    – Amir Asghari
    15 hours ago
















$begingroup$
Thanks :) I am surprised why my search before posting the question didn't lead me to this book.
$endgroup$
– Amir Asghari
15 hours ago




$begingroup$
Thanks :) I am surprised why my search before posting the question didn't lead me to this book.
$endgroup$
– Amir Asghari
15 hours ago











4












$begingroup$

I'll post this as an answer since it's too long for a comment. Even though it does not directly answer the question, I would like to mention that a related quote appears in a very interesting dialogue between Rota and Sharp in 1985 (https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/doe/lanl/pubs/00326965.pdf):




ROTA: Mathematics is the study of analogies between analogies. All
science is. Scientists always want to show that things that don’t look
alike are really the same. That’s one of their innermost Freudian
motivations. In fact, that’s what we mean by understanding.



SHARP: You often hear that the purpose of a scientific theory is to
predict, That’s not correct. The purpose is understanding. Prediction
is one way to test whether our understanding is correct. Simplicity,
scope, and beauty are as important as prediction in judging whether a
theory leads to understanding.







share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    mathoverflow.net/questions/13832
    $endgroup$
    – Steve Huntsman
    9 hours ago
















4












$begingroup$

I'll post this as an answer since it's too long for a comment. Even though it does not directly answer the question, I would like to mention that a related quote appears in a very interesting dialogue between Rota and Sharp in 1985 (https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/doe/lanl/pubs/00326965.pdf):




ROTA: Mathematics is the study of analogies between analogies. All
science is. Scientists always want to show that things that don’t look
alike are really the same. That’s one of their innermost Freudian
motivations. In fact, that’s what we mean by understanding.



SHARP: You often hear that the purpose of a scientific theory is to
predict, That’s not correct. The purpose is understanding. Prediction
is one way to test whether our understanding is correct. Simplicity,
scope, and beauty are as important as prediction in judging whether a
theory leads to understanding.







share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    mathoverflow.net/questions/13832
    $endgroup$
    – Steve Huntsman
    9 hours ago














4












4








4





$begingroup$

I'll post this as an answer since it's too long for a comment. Even though it does not directly answer the question, I would like to mention that a related quote appears in a very interesting dialogue between Rota and Sharp in 1985 (https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/doe/lanl/pubs/00326965.pdf):




ROTA: Mathematics is the study of analogies between analogies. All
science is. Scientists always want to show that things that don’t look
alike are really the same. That’s one of their innermost Freudian
motivations. In fact, that’s what we mean by understanding.



SHARP: You often hear that the purpose of a scientific theory is to
predict, That’s not correct. The purpose is understanding. Prediction
is one way to test whether our understanding is correct. Simplicity,
scope, and beauty are as important as prediction in judging whether a
theory leads to understanding.







share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$



I'll post this as an answer since it's too long for a comment. Even though it does not directly answer the question, I would like to mention that a related quote appears in a very interesting dialogue between Rota and Sharp in 1985 (https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/doe/lanl/pubs/00326965.pdf):




ROTA: Mathematics is the study of analogies between analogies. All
science is. Scientists always want to show that things that don’t look
alike are really the same. That’s one of their innermost Freudian
motivations. In fact, that’s what we mean by understanding.



SHARP: You often hear that the purpose of a scientific theory is to
predict, That’s not correct. The purpose is understanding. Prediction
is one way to test whether our understanding is correct. Simplicity,
scope, and beauty are as important as prediction in judging whether a
theory leads to understanding.








share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered 15 hours ago









GagarGagar

1487




1487












  • $begingroup$
    mathoverflow.net/questions/13832
    $endgroup$
    – Steve Huntsman
    9 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    mathoverflow.net/questions/13832
    $endgroup$
    – Steve Huntsman
    9 hours ago
















$begingroup$
mathoverflow.net/questions/13832
$endgroup$
– Steve Huntsman
9 hours ago




$begingroup$
mathoverflow.net/questions/13832
$endgroup$
– Steve Huntsman
9 hours ago


















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