“Most mathematicians are by nature Platonists who cheerfully, unreflectingly and habitually employ such loaded phrases as 'We assume there exists…' or 'Therefore there exists…' an entity with such and such characteristics. Challenged by the realist they would probably reply that since the truths of mathematics are absolute, universal and eternal it is hard indeed to deny them an existence independent of human intelligence.”

— George Frederick James Temple

100 Years of Mathematics: a Personal Viewpoint (1981)

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George Frederick James Temple 21

British mathematician 1901–1992

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