John von Neumann Quotes - Page 2

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• Any one who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin. For, as has been pointed out several times, there is no such thing as a random number - there are only methods to produce random numbers, and a strict arithmetic procedure of course is not such a method.

  John von Neumann

  Numbers, Sin, Arithmetic

  "Various techniques used in connection with random digits" by John von Neumann in "Monte Carlo Method" edited by A.S. Householder, G.E. Forsythe and H.H. Germond, 1951.

  17 Copy quote

• Kurt Godel's achievement in modern logic is singular and monumental - indeed it is more than a monument, it is a landmark which will remain visible far in space and time. ... The subject of logic has certainly completely changed its nature and possibilities with Godel's achievement.

  John von Neumann

  Space, Achievement, Logic

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• The most vitally characteristic fact about mathematics is, in my opinion, its quite peculiar relationship to the natural sciences, or more generally, to any science which interprets experience on a higher than purely descriptive level.

  John von Neumann

  Levels, Facts, Peculiar

  John Von Neumann, F. Bródy, Tibor Vámos (1995). “The Neumann Compendium”, p.618, World Scientific

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• It is exceptional that one should be able to acquire the understanding of a process without having previously acquired a deep familiarity with running it, with using it, before one has assimilated it in an instinctive and empirical way... Thus any discussion of the nature of intellectual effort in any field is difficult, unless it presupposes an easy, routine familiarity with that field. In mathematics this limitation becomes very severe.

  John von Neumann

  Running, Effort, Understanding

  John Von Neumann, F. Bródy, Tibor Vámos (1995). “The Neumann Compendium”, p.618, World Scientific

  69 Copy quote

• Life is a process which may be abstracted from other media.

  John von Neumann

  Media, May, Life Is

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• You wake me up early in the morning to tell me I am right? Please wait until I am wrong.

  John von Neumann

  Morning, Up Early, Waiting

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• Neumann, to a physicist seeking help with a difficult problem: Simple. This can be solved by using the method of characteristics. Physicist: I'm afraid I don't understand the method of characteristics. Neumann: In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them.

  John von Neumann

  Science, Simple, Understanding

  Quoted in Gary Zukav, The DancingWu Li Masters (1979)

  55 Copy quote

• I am a little troubled about the tea service in the electronic computer building. Apparently the members of your staff consume several times as much supplies as the same number of people do in Fuld Hall and they have been especially unfair in the matter of sugar.... I should like to raise the question whether it would not be better for the computer people to come up to Fuld Hall at the end of the day at 5 o'clock and have their tea here under proper supervision.

  John von Neumann

  Numbers, People, Tea

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• The emphasis on mathematical methods seems to be shifted more towards combinatorics and set theory - and away from the algorithm of differential equations which dominates mathematical physics.

  John von Neumann

  Algorithms, Physics, Mathematics

  John Von Neumann, F. Bródy, Tibor Vámos (1995). “The Neumann Compendium”, p.453, World Scientific

  18 Copy quote

• Any one who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin.

  John von Neumann

  Witty, Powerful, Humorous

  "Various techniques used in connection with random digits" by John von Neumann in "Monte Carlo Method" edited by A.S. Householder, G.E. Forsythe and H.H. Germond, 1951.

  13 Copy quote

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