William Thurston Quote

The inner force that drives mathematicians isn't to look for applications; it's to understand the structure and inner beauty of mathematics.


In: D. Albers, G. Alexanderson and C. Reid, More Mathematical People: Contemporary Conversations (p. 335)


The inner force that drives mathematicians isn't to look for applications; it's to understand the structure and inner beauty of mathematics.

The inner force that drives mathematicians isn't to look for applications; it's to understand the structure and inner beauty of mathematics.

The inner force that drives mathematicians isn't to look for applications; it's to understand the structure and inner beauty of mathematics.

The inner force that drives mathematicians isn't to look for applications; it's to understand the structure and inner beauty of mathematics.