Elements of Algebra (London, 1837), Preface.
[1702]. Algebra is generous, she often gives more than is asked of her.—D’Alembert.
Quoted in Bulletin American Mathematical Society, Vol. 2 (1905), p. 285.
[1703]. The operations of symbolic arithmetick seem to me to afford men one of the clearest exercises of reason that I ever yet met with, nothing being there to be performed without strict and watchful ratiocination, and the whole method and progress of that appearing at once upon the paper, when the operation is finished, and affording the analyst a lasting, and, as it were, visible ratiocination.—Boyle, Robert.
Works (London, 1772), Vol. 3, p. 426.
[1704]. The human mind has never invented a labor-saving machine equal to algebra.—
The Nation, Vol. 33, p. 237.
[1705]. They that are ignorant of Algebra cannot imagine the wonders in this kind are to be done by it: and what further improvements and helps advantageous to other parts of knowledge the sagacious mind of man may yet find out, it is not easy to determine. This at least I believe, that the ideas of quantity are not those alone that are capable of demonstration and knowledge; and that other, and perhaps more useful, parts of contemplation, would afford us certainty, if vices, passions, and domineering interest did not oppose and menace such endeavours.—Locke, John.
An Essay concerning Human Understanding, Bk. 4, chap. 3, sect. 18.
[1706]. Algebra is but written geometry and geometry is but figured algebra.—Germain, Sophie.