Arithmetic Quotes

“Of course, being a mathematician, I'm always looking for ways to avoid tedious mundane labor. Especially if it means I get to do a bunch of interesting abstract thinking. That's kind of the whole math thing: working hard to find ways to get out of working hard. If you are really, really lazy, and also happen to be really, really clever, then math just might be the life for you (assuming you also have no interest in wealth, fame, or popularity).”
― Paul Lockhart, Arithmetic

“Perhaps the most surprising and powerful aspect of place-value arithmetic is how it reduces any calculation to a set of purely abstract symbolic manipulations. In principle, I suppose, one could even be trained to perform such symbol-jiggling procedures without any comprehension whatever of the underlying meaning. We could even (if we can possible imagine being so cruel) force young children to memorize tables of symbols and meaningless step-by-step procedures, and then reward or punish them for their skill (or lack thereof) in this dreary and soulless activity. This would help protect our future office workers from accidentally gaining a personal relationship to arithmetic as a craft or enjoying the perspective that outlook would provide. We could turn the entire enterprise into a rote mechanical process and then reward those who show the most willingness to be made into reliable and obedient tools. I wonder if you can imagine such a nightmarish, dystopian world? Let's try not to think about it.”
― Paul Lockhart, Arithmetic