"Avec toute l’algèbre du monde on n’est souvent qu’un sot lorsqu’on ne sait pas autre chose. Peut-être dans dix ans la société tirera-t-elle de l’avantage des courbes que des songe-creux d’algébristes auront carrées laborieusement. J’en félicite d’avance la postérité; mais, à vous parler vrai, je ne vois dans tous ces calculs qu’une scientifique extravagance. Tout ce qui n’est ni utile ni agréable ne vaut rien. Quant aux choses utiles, elles sont toutes trouvées; et, pour les agréables, j’espère que le bon goût n’y admettra point d’algèbre."
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Original Language: English
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Frederick the Great, Letters of Voltaire and Frederick the Great (New York: Brentano's, 1927) Tr. Richard Aldington, letter 93 from Frederick to Voltaire (May 16, 1749)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/History_of_algebra
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History of algebra
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