I wrote a great deal... but very little of any importance; there are not more than four of five papers which I can still remember with some satisfaction.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the author's realization that much of their written work lacks significance, highlighting the importance of quality over quantity.
G. H. Hardy's quote expresses a candid acknowledgment of his own literary output, suggesting that despite writing extensively, he only values a handful of his works. This introspection reveals a deeper philosophical perspective on the nature of achievement and the fleeting nature of recognition, emphasizing that it is not the volume of work that defines its worth but the impact and significance of a few select pieces.
In practice
In a motivational speech discussing the value of meaningful contributions.
A chess problem is genuine mathematics, but it is in some way "trivial" mathematics. However, ingenious and intricate, however original and surprising the moves, there is something essential lacking. Chess problems are unimportant. The best mathematics is serious as well as beautiful-"important" if you like, but the word is very ambiguous, and "serious" expresses what I mean much better.
Mathematics is not a contemplative but a creative subject; no one can draw much consolation from it when he has lost the power or the desire to create; and that is apt to happen to a mathematician rather soon. It is a pity, but in that case he does not matter a great deal anyhow, and it would be silly to bother about him.
Exposition, criticism, appreciation, is work for second-rate minds.
It is hardly possible to maintain seriously that the evil done by science is not altogether outweighed by the good. For example, if ten million lives were lost in every war, the net effect of science would still have been to increase the average length of life.
Real mathematics must be justified as art if it can be justified at all.
If intellectual curiosity, professional pride, and ambition are the dominant incentives to research, then assuredly no one has a fairer chance of gratifying them than a mathematician.
Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.
Forgive yourself for not being at peace.
Each daughter of God is of infinite worth because of her divine mission.
Reason, or the ratio of all we have already known, is not the same that it shall be when we know more.
When from our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, and droop. Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign is solitude.
Pay now, play later; play now, pay later.
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