“In mathematics the art of asking questions is more valuable than solving problems.”

—  Georg Cantor

Doctoral thesis (1867); variant translation: In mathematics the art of proposing a question must be held of higher value than solving it.

Original

In re mathematica ars proponendi quaestionem pluris facienda est quam solvendi.

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Georg Cantor 27
mathematician, inventor of set theory 1845–1918

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