Archimedes

Eureka! (I have found it!)

3rd century BCE — Upon discovering the principle of buoyancy in his bath

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The diameter of the Earth is greater than the diameter of the Moon and the diameter of the Sun is greater than the diameter of the Earth.

3rd century BCE — From his work 'The Sand Reckoner'

Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Give me the place to stand, and I shall move the earth.

c. 250 BCE (approximate, statement made much earlier than Pappus's account) — Assertion in demonstrating the principle of the lever, as quoted by Pappus of Alexandria.

Controversial Confirmed

Eureka!

c. 250 BCE (approximate, story relayed by Vitruvius Pollio in 1st century BCE) — Exclaimed upon discovering the principle of buoyancy, running naked through the streets of Syracuse.

Controversial Unverifiable

Noli turbare circulos meos.

c. 212 BCE — His reputed last words, said to a Roman soldier who interrupted his work during the siege of Syracus…

Controversial Unverifiable

There are things which seem incredible to most men who have not studied mathematics.

Undated, but from accounts of his life and work. — General reflection on the power of mathematics.

Controversial Unverifiable

Mathematics reveals its secrets only to those who approach it with pure love, for its own beauty.

Undated, but from attributed quotes. — Philosophical statement on the nature of mathematical discovery.

Controversial Unverifiable

Do not disturb my circles!

212 BCE — Allegedly said to a Roman soldier before being killed during the Siege of Syracuse

Controversial Confirmed

Eureka! Eureka!

c. 250 BCE — Famously exclaimed upon discovering the principle of buoyancy while bathing. As told by Vitruvius.

Humorous Unverifiable

Any solid lighter than a fluid will, if placed in the fluid, be so far immersed that the weight of the fluid displaced by the immersed portion will be equal to the weight of the solid.

c. 250 BCE — From 'On Floating Bodies', articulating Archimedes' Principle.

Humorous Unverifiable

The value of pi is more than 3 10/71 and less than 3 1/7.

c. 250 BCE — From 'Measurement of a Circle', providing bounds for Pi.

Humorous Unverifiable

Take the case of a cube and a sphere, and see which is the more beautiful body.

c. 250 BCE — Reflecting on the aesthetics of geometric forms.

Humorous Unverifiable

The proportion of any sphere to the cylinder circumscribing it is as 2 to 3.

c. 250 BCE — A discovery he was most proud of, requesting it be inscribed on his tomb. As told by Cicero.

Humorous Unverifiable

Many things which seem incredible and impossible to those who have had no experience of the methods of science, are yet capable of being accomplished by means of geometry.

c. 250 BCE — From 'The Sand Reckoner', advocating for the power of mathematics.

Humorous Unverifiable

If I had a place to stand on, I could move the whole world.

c. 250 BCE — A slightly different translation of his lever quote, emphasizing the hypothetical power.

Humorous Unverifiable

There are some who think that the number of the sand is infinite in multitude.

c. 250 BCE — From 'The Sand Reckoner', challenging the concept of infinite numbers.

Humorous Unverifiable

By a method of mechanical reasoning, I first discovered that the area of a segment of a parabola is four-thirds of the triangle with the same base and equal height.

c. 250 BCE — From 'The Method of Mechanical Theorems', describing his innovative approach.

Humorous Unverifiable

He who understands the world well will not find it difficult to understand the laws that govern it.

c. 250 BCE — A general philosophical statement.

Humorous Unverifiable

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

c. 250 BCE — A geometric axiom often attributed to him.

Humorous Unverifiable

Every magnitude is comparable with every other magnitude of the same kind.

c. 250 BCE — A fundamental principle of his mathematical reasoning.

Humorous Unverifiable

Sayings by Archimedes