"Let me also remind you that zero, like all of mathematics, is fictional and an idealization. It is impossible to reach absolute zero temperature or to get perfect vacuum. Luckily, mathematics is a fairyland where ideal and fictional objects are possible."

Doron Zeilberger Mathematics See all quotes by Doron Zeilberger →

React to this quote

More by Doron Zeilberger

“Programming is much much harder than doing mathematics.”

“Regardless of whether or not God exists, God has no place in mathematics, at least in my book.”

“Conventional wisdom, fooled by our misleading "physical intuition", is that the real world is continuous, and that discrete models are necessary evils for approximating the "real" world, due to the innate discreteness of the digital computer.”

“Math is perfect , but mathematicians are not , hence the mathematics that mathematicians do is influenced by the weltanschauung of the people around them.”

“The best way to learn a topic is by teaching it. Similarly the best way to understand a new proof is by writing an expository article about it.”

“Mathematics my foot! Algorithms are mathematics too, and often more interesting and definitely more useful.”

Resonant Thoughts

"Me personally and professionally, I haven't been that outspoken about race and class, partly because it's in my work, but in part because I don't want to get hate mail. I'm sick of trying to talk to p…"

— James McBride (writer)

Literature1957

#justice

"I have endeavoured to steer a middle course between the general verbosity of our English statutes, and the extreme brevity of the French criminal code. ... In the bills I have the honour of submitting…"

— Robert Peel

Politics1788–1850

#justice

"My philosophy has been and continues to be that cannot and should not try to seize the initiative in shaping the policy of the law, either by constitutional interpretation or by statutory construction…"

— Robert H. Jackson

Law1892–1954

#justice

"What was bizarre, when I was younger, I never watched TV. I would rather watch a movie 100 times than to watch a TV show, just to find another nuance. I can't tell you how many times I've watched 'On …"

— Vin Diesel

Entertainment1967

#justice