He who seeks for methods without having a definite problem in mind seeks in the most part in vain.

David Hilbert

One can measure the importance of a scientific work by the number of earlier publications rendered superfluous by it.

David Hilbert

Mathematics is a game played according to certain simple rules with meaningless marks on paper.

David Hilbert

Geometry, like arithmetic, requires for its logical development only a small number of simple, fundamental principles. These fundamental principles are called the axioms of geometry.

David Hilbert

If I were to awaken after having slept for a thousand years, my first question would be: Has the Riemann hypothesis been proven?

David Hilbert

A mathematical theory is not to be considered complete until you have made it so clear that you can explain it to the first man whom you meet on the street.

David Hilbert

The infinite! No other question has ever moved so profoundly the spirit of man.

David Hilbert

No one shall expel us from the paradise that Cantor has created for us.

David Hilbert

Wir müssen wissen. Wir werden wissen.

David Hilbert

For us there is no ignorabimus, and in my opinion none at all in natural science. Rather than this foolish ignorabimus our slogan shall be: Wir müssen wissen, wir werden wissen!

David Hilbert

Physics is actually too hard for physicists.

David Hilbert

I didn’t work especially hard at mathematics at school, because I knew that’s what I’d be doing later.

David Hilbert