Graves’ Life of Hamilton (New York, 1882-1889), Vol. 3, p. 635.
[1719]. It is confidently predicted, by those best qualified to judge, that in the coming centuries Hamilton’s Quaternions will stand out as the great discovery of our nineteenth century. Yet how silently has the book taken its place upon the shelves of the mathematician’s library! Perhaps not fifty men on this side of the Atlantic have seen it, certainly not five have read it.—Hill, Thomas.
North American Review, Vol. 85, p. 223.
[1720]. I think the time may come when double algebra will be the beginner’s tool; and quaternions will be where double algebra is now. The Lord only knows what will come above the quaternions.—De Morgan, A.
Graves’ Life of Hamilton (New York, 1882-1889), Vol. 3, p. 493.
[1721]. Quaternions came from Hamilton after his really good work had been done; and though beautifully ingenious, have been an unmixed evil to those who have touched them in any way, including Clerk Maxwell.—Thomson, William.
Thompson, S. P.: Life of Lord Kelvin (London, 1910), p. 1138.
[1722]. The whole affair [quaternions] has in respect to mathematics a value not inferior to that of “Volapuk” in respect to language.—Thomson, William.
Thompson, S. P.: Life of Lord Kelvin (London, 1910), p. 1138.
[1723]. A quaternion of maladies! Do send me some formula by help of which I may so doctor them that they may all become imaginary or positively equal to nothing.—Sedgwick.