I have a true aversion to teaching. The perennial business of a professor of mathematics is only to … - Carl Friedrich Gauss

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Don’t repeat yourself. It’s not only repetitive, it’s redundant, and people have heard it before.

Carl Friedrich Gauss

I have a true aversion to teaching. The perennial business of a professor of mathematics is only to teach the ABC of his science; most of the few pupils who go a step further, and usually to keep the metaphor, remain in the process of gathering information, become only Halbwisser [one who has superficial knowledge of the subject], for the rarer talents do not want to have themselves educated by lecture courses, but train themselves. And with this thankless work the professor loses his precious time.

Education, Pupils, Science, Talents, Teaching

Same Author Quotes

In my opinion instruction is very purposeless for such individuals who do no want merely to collect a mass of knowledge, but are mainly interested in exercising (training) their own powers. One doesn't need to grasp such a one by the hand and lead him to the goal, but only from time to time give him suggestions, in order that he may reach it himself in the shortest way.

Education, Exercise, Goal, Grasp, Individuals, Science

My young friend, I wish that science would intoxicate you as much as our good Göttingen beer! Upon seeing a student staggering down a street.

Beer, Science, Street, Wish, Young Friends

It is always noteworthy that all those who seriously study this science [the theory of numbers] conceive a sort of passion for it.

Noteworthy, Numbers, Passion, Science, Study

To the distracting occupations belong especially my lecture courses which I am holding this winter for the first time, and which now cost much more of my time than I like. Meanwhile I hope that the second time this expenditure of time will be much less, otherwise I would never be able to reconcile myself to it, even practical (astronomical) work must give far more satisfaction than if one brings up to B a couple more mediocre heads which otherwise would have stopped at A.

Couple, Education, Practical, Time, Winter

To such idle talk it might further be added: that whenever a certain exclusive occupation is coupled with specific shortcomings, it is likewise almost certainly divorced from certain other shortcomings.

Certain, Further, Idle, Likewise, Might, Occupation