Mathematics consists of proving the most obvious thing in the least obvious way.
More Quotes from George Polyá:
There are many questions which fools can ask that wise men cannot answer.George Polyá
In order to translate a sentence from English into French two things are necessary. First, we must understand thoroughly the English sentence. Second, we must be familiar with the forms of expression peculiar to the French language. The situation is very similar when we attempt to express in mathematical symbols a condition proposed in words. First, we must understand thoroughly the condition. Second, we must be familiar with the forms of mathematical expression.
George Polyá
Epitaph on Newton Nature and Nature's law lay hid in night God said, 'Let Newton be,' and all was light. added by Sir John Collings Squire It did not last the Devil shouting 'Ho. Let Einstein be,' restored the status quo Aaron Hill's version O'er Nature's laws God cast the veil of night, Out blaz'd a Newton's soul and all was light.
George Polyá
Mathematics is the cheapest science. Unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. All one needs for mathematics is a pencil and paper.
George Polyá
Even fairly good students, when they have obtained the solution of the problem and written down neatly the argument, shut their books and look for something else. Doing so, they miss an important and instructive phase of the work.... A good teacher should understand and impress on his students the view that no problem whatever is completely exhausted. One of the first and foremost duties of the teacher is not to give his students the impression that mathematical problems have little connection with each other, and no connection at all with anything else. We have a natural opportunity to investigate the connections of a problem when looking back at its solution.
George Polyá
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