Bodies do not produce sensations, but complexes of elements (complexes of sensations) make up bodies.
Ernst MachRead
Strange as it may sound, the power of mathematics rests on its evasion of all unnecessary thought and on its wonderful saving of mental operations.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Mathematics simplifies complex ideas, allowing for clear thought and fewer mental efforts.
Ernst Mach emphasizes that the strength of mathematics lies in its ability to streamline thought processes, minimizing unnecessary cognitive load while maximizing efficiency in problem-solving. This suggests that mathematics not only conveys essential truths but does so in a way that avoids complicating matters, thus freeing the mind for deeper understanding.
Themes
MathematicsThoughtEfficiencyClarityCognition
In practice
Example use cases
In a math class, a teacher could share this quote to highlight the elegance of mathematical solutions.
More from Ernst Mach
All quotes βIt would not become physical science to see in its self created, changeable, economical tools, molecules and atoms, realities behind phenomena... The atom must remain a tool for representing phenomena.
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