As this book demonstrates, mathematicians are far more quotable than the stereotype would indicate. Their craft is unusual in the sense that it is the most fundamental reality that we have. Some have argued that the only two areas where these is absolute truth is in religion and mathematics. Once something is proved, no matter how counterintuitive it may appear, it is true, end of discussion.
Furthermore, throughout the history of mathematics, new and unusual results arise yet seem to have no practical use. Yet, eventually fundamental and necessary uses are found and we look back and wonder how we ever did things without the new techniques.
The joy, splendor, beauty, elegance and wonder of mathematics are all captured in this collection of 2160 quotes. It is one of the best books on the thought processes that go into mathematics that has ever been published. There are many authors, but only one real message.