"According to Aristotle, the Pythagoreans said Things are numbers, though that does not appear to be the doctrine of the fragments of "Philolaos." According to them, things have number, which make them knowable, while their real essence is... unknowable. ...[B]ut ...things are numbers seems meaningless. We have seen reason for believing that it is due to Pythagoras..., though we did not feel able to say... clearly what he meant..."