Pierre de Fermat quotes

Pierre de Fermat was a French mathematician recognized as one of the founders of modern number theory. His work on the properties of numbers and probability had a profound impact on mathematics. He is famous for Fermat's Last Theorem, which remained unsolved for centuries. Here are 11 of his quotes:

It is impossible for any number which is a power greater than the second to be written as a sum of two like powers. I have a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.

Pierre de Fermat

I am more exempt and more distant than any man in the world.

Pierre de Fermat

The result of my work has been the most extraordinary, the most unforeseen, and the happiest, that ever was; for, after having performed all the equations, multiplications, antitheses, and other operations of my method, and having finally finished the problem, I have found that my principle gives exactly and precisely the same proportion for the refractions which Monsieur Descartes has established.

Pierre de Fermat

And this proposition is generally true for all progressions and for all prime numbers; the proof of which I would send to you, if I were not afraid to be too long.

Pierre de Fermat

And perhaps, posterity will thank me for having shown that the ancients did not know everything.

Pierre de Fermat

But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the square into like powers; of this I have found a remarkable demonstration. This margin is too narrow to contain it.

Pierre de Fermat

I will share all of this with you whenever you wish.

Pierre de Fermat

I propose this theorem to be proved or problem to be solved. If they succeed in discovering the proof or solution, they will acknowledge that questions of this kind are not inferior to the more celebrated ones from geometry either for depth or difficulty or method of proof.

Pierre de Fermat

There is scarcely any one who states purely arithmetical questions, scarcely any who understands them. Is this not because arithmetic has been treated up to this time geometrically rather than arithmetically?

Pierre de Fermat