Israel Gelfand Quotes

#1. The approach of von Neumann and Connes to the use of non-commutative algebra in physics is naive, the situation is much more complicated.

Israel Gelfand

#2. I used to say: "Everything is Representation Theory". Now I say: "Nothing is Representation Theory".

Israel Gelfand

#3. If you understand something, you understand that it is obvious.

Israel Gelfand

#4. One of the reasons we don't do as well as we should is that we are all over-taught.

Israel Gelfand

#5. They have the idea that non-commutative algebra should remind one of commutative algebra, but the former is more sophisticated. I believe that non-commutative algebra is just as simple, but it is different.

Israel Gelfand

#6. My life may be encapsulated by one of Graham Greene's "entertainments" titles: 'Loser Takes All'. Since I was thrown out of highschool for political reasons, I was free to study on my own and develop my own ways of thinking.

Israel Gelfand

#7. People (or students) do not have shortcomings, only uniquenesses. The goal of a good teacher is to turn these uniquenesses into advantages.

Israel Gelfand