=811.= It has long been a complaint against mathematicians that they are hard to convince: but it is a far greater disqualification both for philosophy, and for the affairs of life, to be too easily convinced; to have too low a standard of proof. The only sound intellects are those which, in the first instance, set their standards of proof high. Practice in concrete affairs soon teaches them to make the necessary abatement: but they retain the consciousness, without which there is no sound practical reasoning, that in accepting inferior evidence because there is no better to be had, they do not by that acceptance raise it to completeness.--MILL, J. S. _An Examination of Sir William Hamilton’s Philosophy (London, 1878), p. 611._ =812.= It is easier to square the circle than to get round a mathematician.--DE MORGAN, A. _Budget of Paradoxes (London, 1872), p. 90._ =813.= Mathematicians are like Frenchmen: whatever you say to them they translate into their own language and forthwith it is something entirely different.--GOETHE. _Maximen und Reflexionen, Sechste Abtheilung._ =814.= What I chiefly admired, and thought altogether unaccountable, was the strong disposition I observed in them [the mathematicians of Laputa] towards news and politics; perpetually inquiring into public affairs; giving their judgments in matters of state; and passionately disputing every inch of party opinion. I have indeed observed the same disposition among most of the mathematicians I have known in Europe, although I could never discover the least analogy between the two sciences. --SWIFT, JONATHAN. _Gulliver’s Travels, Part 3, chap. 2._ =815.= The great mathematician, like the great poet or naturalist or great administrator, is born. My contention shall be that where the mathematic endowment is found, there will usually be found associated with it, as essential implications in it, other endowments in generous measure, and that the appeal of the science is to the whole mind, direct no doubt to the central powers of thought, but indirectly through sympathy of all, rousing, enlarging, developing, emancipating all, so that the faculties of will, of intellect and feeling learn to respond, each in its appropriate order and degree, like the parts of an orchestra to the “urge and ardor” of its leader and lord. --KEYSER, C. J. _Lectures on Science, Philosophy and Art (New York, 1908), p. 22._