Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Piyush Shukla

Quote of the day by Bernhard Riemann: “Without doubt it would be desirable to have a rigorous proof of...” — Inspiring life lessons on curiosity, perseverance, continuous learning, and why great discoveries often begin before every answer is found by the German mathematician known for the Riemannian geometry

Quote of the Day by Bernhard Riemann features one of the most revealing reflections ever written by legendary mathematician Bernhard Riemann. Instead of celebrating certainty, his words celebrate something far more valuable—intellectual honesty. He wrote, “Without doubt it would be desirable to have a rigorous proof of this proposition; however I have left this research aside for the time being after some quick unsuccessful attempts, because it appears to be unnecessary for the immediate goal of my study.”

At first glance, the quote sounds technical. Yet beneath its mathematical language lies a timeless lesson about ambition, curiosity, and disciplined thinking. His statement reminds readers that meaningful progress rarely comes from forcing every problem to be solved at once. Sometimes wisdom lies in recognizing what matters today while leaving room for tomorrow's discoveries. That perspective helped shape one of history's greatest mathematical minds and continues to inspire scientists, researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and anyone pursuing difficult goals.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.