Henri Poincare Quotes


It is through science that we prove, but through intuition that we discover. Henri Poincare Discover 120
Mathematicians are born, not made. Henri Poincare Born 111
Science is facts. Henri Poincare Facts 96
A very small cause which escapes our notice determines a considerable effect that we cannot fail to see, and then we say that the effect is due to chance. Henri Poincare Cause 94
To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection. Henri Poincare Doubt 93
Absolute space, that is to say, the mark to which it would be necessary to refer the earth to know whether it really moves, has no objective existence. Henri Poincare Absolute 87
Invention consists in avoiding the constructing of useless contraptions and in constructing the useful combinations which are in infinite minority. Henri Poincare Avoiding 85
How is an error possible in mathematics? Henri Poincare Error 84
The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. Henri Poincare Nature 82
Mathematical discoveries, small or great are never born of spontaneous generation. Henri Poincare Born 79
Just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts. Henri Poincare Science 78
Geometry is not true, it is advantageous. Henri Poincare Advantageous 76
If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living. Henri Poincare Nature 76
If we knew exactly the laws of nature and the situation of the universe at the initial moment, we could predict exactly the situation of the same universe at a succeeding moment. Henri Poincare Nature 75
It is far better to foresee even without certainty than not to foresee at all. Henri Poincare Certainty 68
Ideas rose in clouds; I felt them collide until pairs interlocked, so to speak, making a stable combination. Henri Poincare Clouds 68
Science is built up of facts, as a house is built of stones; but an accumulation of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house. Henri Poincare Facts 67
Mathematics is the art of giving the same name to different things. Henri Poincare Art 67
The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge of a physical law. Henri Poincare Analogy 64
It is the harmony of the diverse parts, their symmetry, their happy balance; in a word it is all that introduces order, all that gives unity, that permits us to see clearly and to comprehend at once both the ensemble and the details. Henri Poincare Balance 62
A scientist worthy of his name, about all a mathematician, experiences in his work the same impression as an artist; his pleasure is as great and of the same nature. Henri Poincare Nature 60
The mind uses its faculty for creativity only when experience forces it to do so. Henri Poincare Experience 60
To invent is to discern, to choose. Henri Poincare Choose 59
One would have to have completely forgotten the history of science so as to not remember that the desire to know nature has had the most constant and the happiest influence on the development of mathematics. Henri Poincare Science 59
If that enabled us to predict the succeeding situation with the same approximation, that is all we require, and we should say that the phenomenon had been predicted, that it is governed by the laws. Henri Poincare Approximation 57
A small error in the former will produce an enormous error in the latter. Henri Poincare Enormous 57
In the old days when people invented a new function they had something useful in mind. Henri Poincare Days 55
Point set topology is a disease from which the human race will soon recover. Henri Poincare Disease 54
Mathematicians do not study objects, but relations between objects. Henri Poincare Between 53
If one looks at the different problems of the integral calculus which arise naturally when one wishes to go deep into the different parts of physics, it is impossible not to be struck by the analogies existing. Henri Poincare Arise 44
Need we add that mathematicians themselves are not infallible? Henri Poincare Add 41
A sane mind should not be guilty of a logical fallacy, yet there are very fine minds incapable of following mathematical demonstrations. Henri Poincare Demonstrations 40
Hypotheses are what we lack the least. Henri Poincare Hypotheses 38
Thought is only a flash between two long nights, but this flash is everything. Henri Poincare Between 34
Thus, they are free to replace some objects by others so long as the relations remain unchanged. Henri Poincare Free 33
No more than these machines need the mathematician know what he does. Henri Poincare Machines 31
Facts do not speak. Henri Poincare Facts 31
What is it indeed that gives us the feeling of elegance in a solution, in a demonstration? Henri Poincare Demonstration 25
It has adopted the geometry most advantageous to the species or, in other words, the most convenient. Henri Poincare Adopted 23

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