Mathematicians Of The Day

18th April



On this day in 1831, Sophie Germain wrote a letter to her friend Libri which describes Galois' situation.
... the death of M. Fourier, have been too much for this student Galois who, in spite of his impertinence, showed signs of a clever disposition. All this has done so much that he has been expelled form École Normale. He is without money ... They say he will go completely mad. I fear this is true.

Click on for a poster.


Quotation of the day

From Albert Einstein
Before God we are all equally wise - equally foolish.
Quoted in Des MacHale, Wisdom (London, 2002).