Newton took no exercise, indulged in no amusements, and worked incessantly, often spending eighteen or nineteen hours out of the twenty-four in writing.

[Gauss calculated the elements of the planet Ceres] and his analysis proved him to be the first of theoretical astronomers no less than the greatest of 'arithmeticians.'

Throughout his life Newton must have devoted at least as much attention to chemistry and theology as to mathematics.

Babbage ... gave the name to the [Cambridge] Analytical Society, which he stated was formed to advocate 'the principles of pure d-ism as opposed to the dot-age of the university.'

'My dear friend, that must be a delusion, what can a circle have to do with the number of people alive at a given time?'

For other great mathematicians or philosophers, he [Gauss] used the epithets magnus, or clarus, or clarissimus; for Newton alone he kept the prefix summus.

[I]t is difficult to imagine a set of beliefs more suggestive of mental illness than those that lie at the heart of many of our religious traditions.

We're starting our own religion at last. The Order of Frisbeetarians. We believe that when you die, your soul ascends to a rooftop and you can never get it back.

Men, " she said rueful, "are the most absurd creatures on this green earth." "But there are camels, " Gabriel pointed out. "Believe me, " she answered. "I've taken camels into consideration.

Nobody will achieve anything just by dreaming.

... the love which Kahu received from Koro Apirana was the sort that dropped off the edge of the table, like breadcrumbs after everybody else has had a big meal.

Anyone who sees the realism in Lynch truly understand poetry!

The most striking characters are sometimes the product of an infinity of little accidents.

The male quality is the creative gift.

First of all, I would like to clear the air on one thing. Alison has slept with more men than Amanda; Sydney has slept with more men than Amanda; I think Matt has slept with more men than Amanda.

When I left drama school, my fear was that I'd get pigeon holed into comic acting and I did so much to counter it that I got stuck in the opposite.