On Equations III (Sound and Language I)

“Poetry is a sort of inspired mathematics, which gives us equations, not for abstract figures, triangles, squares, and the like, but for the human emotions. If one has a mind which inclines to magic rather than science, one will prefer to speak of these equations as spells or incantations; it sounds more arcane, mysterious, recondite. “ (Ezra Pound, “The Spirit of Romance”, 1910)

“Translating mathematics into ordinary language is like translating music. It cannot be done. One could describe in detail a sheet of music and tell the shape of each note and where it is placed on the staff, but that would not convey any idea of how it would sound when played. So, too, I suppose that even the most complicated equation could be described in common words, but it would be so verbose and involved that nobody could get the sense of it.” (Edwin E Slosson, “Chats on Science”, 1924)

"There is probably no one word which is more closely associated in everyone's mind with the mathematician than the word equation. The reason for this is easy to find. In the language of mathematics the word 'equation' plays the same role as that played by the word 'sentence' in a spoken and written language. Now the sentence is the unit for the expression of thought; the equation is the unit for the expression of a mathematical idea." (Mayme I Logsdon, "A Mathematician Explains", 1935)

“There is nothing that can be said by mathematical symbols and relations which cannot also be said by words. The converse, however, is false. Much that can be and is said by words cannot successfully be put into equations, because it is nonsense.” (Clifford Truesdell, “Six Lectures on Modern Natural Philosophy”, 1966)

”Just as one can appreciate the beauty of a Beethoven quartet without being able to read a note of music, it is possible to learn about the scope and power and, yes, beauty of a scientific explanation of nature without solving equations.” (Gilbert Shapiro, “Physics Without Math”,  1979)

”How can it be that writing down a few simple and elegant formulae, like short poems governed by strict rules such as those of the sonnet or the waka, can predict universal regularities of Nature? Perhaps we see equations as simple because they are easily expressed in terms of mathematical notation already invented at an earlier stage of development of the science, and thus what appears to us as elegance of description really reflects the interconnectedness of Nature’s laws at different levels.” (Murray Gell-Mann, 1969)

“[…] equations are like poetry: They speak truths with a unique precision, convey volumes of information in rather brief terms, and often are difficult for the uninitiated to comprehend.” (Michael Guillen, “Five Equations That Changed the World”, 1995)

“It is impossible to understand the true meaning of an equation, or to appreciate its beauty, unless it is read in the delightfully quirky language in which it was penned.” (Michael Guillen, “Five Equations That Changed the World”, 1995)

"When you get to know them, equations are actually rather friendly. They are clear, concise, sometimes even beautiful. The secret truth about equations is that they are a simple, clear language for describing certain ‘recipes’ for calculating things." (Ian Stewart, “Why Beauty Is Truth”, 2007)

"If you don’t read poetry how the hell can you solve equations?" (Harvey Jackins)