Solomon Lefschetz

"As is well known, when one endeavors to pass from one-dimensional birational geometry to the higher dimensions, the difficulties multiply enormously. Many results do not extend at all, or if they do, …"

"The numerical relations existing between ordinary or so-called Plückerian singularities of a plane curve were determined as early as 1834 by P, but the inverse question has been left almost untouched.…"

"It will be remembered that the positions on a Riemann surface are treated by Hensel, Landsberg, and Jung as arithmetical divisors. At bottom the associated symbolical operations are in no sense differ…"

"In the development of the theory of algebraic functions of one variable the introduction by Riemann of the surfaces that bear his name has played a well-known part. Owing to the partial failure of spa…"

"It was my lot to plant the harpoon of algebraic topology into the body of the whale of algebraic geometry."