Lebesgue Quotes & Sayings

Mathematicians have never been in full agreement on their science, though it is said to be the science of self-evident verities
absolute, indisputable and definitive. They have always been in controversy over developing aspects of mathematics, and they have always considered their own age to be in a period of crisis. — Henri Lebesgue

The only teaching that a professor can give, in my opinion, is that of thinking in front of his students. — Henri Lebesgue

In my opinion a mathematician, in so far as he is a mathematician, need not preoccupy himself with philosophy-an opinion, moreover, which has been expressed by many philosophers. — Henri Lebesgue

Does anyone believe that the difference between the Lebesgue and Riemann integrals can have physical significance, and that whether say, an airplane would or would not fly could depend on this difference? If such were claimed, I should not care to fly in that plane. — Richard Hamming

If one were to refuse to have direct, geometric, intuitive insights, if one were reduced to pure logic, which does not permit a choice among every thing that is exact, one would hardly think of many questions, and certain notions ... would escape us completely. — Henri Lebesgue