"We have not begun to understand the relationship between combinatorics and conceptual mathematics." (Jean Dieudonné, "A Panorama of Pure Mathematics: As Seen by N. Bourbaki", 1982)
"A mathematician, then, will be defined in what follows as someone who has published the proof of at least one non-trivial theorem." (Jean Dieudonné, "Mathematics and Mathematicians", 1992)
"Engineers, always looking for optimal values for the measures of magnitudes which interest them, think of mathematicians as custodians of a fund of formulae, to be supplied to them on demand." (Jean Dieudonné, "Mathematics - The Music of Reason", 1992)
"In the flowering of a mathematical talent social environment has an important part to play." (Jean Dieudonné, "Mathematics - The Music of Reason", 1992)
"The life of a mathematician is dominated by an insatiable curiosity, a desire bordering on passion to solve the problems he is studying." (Jean Dieudonné, "Mathematics - The Music of Reason", 1992)
"[...] there is no criterion for appreciation which does not vary from one epoch to another and from one mathematician to another. [...] These divergences in taste recall the quarrels aroused by works of art, and it is a fact that mathematicians often discuss among themselves whether a theorem is more or less ‚beautiful‘. This never fails to surprise practitioners of other sciences: for them the sole criterion is the 'truth' of a theory or formula." (Jean Dieudonné, "Mathematics - The Music of Reason", 1992)
"On foundations we believe in the reality of mathematics, but of course, when philosophers attack us with their paradoxes, we rush to hide behind formalism and say 'mathematics is just a combination of meaningless symbols’ […]. Finally we are left in peace to go back to our mathematics and do it as we have always done, with the feeling each mathematician has that he is working with something real. The sensation is probably an illusion, but it is very convenient." (Jean Dieudonné)
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