Mathematics is not
only real, but it is
the only reality.
[The] entire
universe is made of
matter, obviously.
And matter is made
of particles. It's
made of electrons
and neutrons and
protons. So the
entire universe is
made out of
particles. Now what
are the particles
made out of? They're
not made out of
anything. The only
thing you can say
about the reality of
an electron is to
cite its
mathematical
properties. So
there's a sense in
which matter has
completely dissolved
and what is left is
just a mathematical
structure.
Citation:
Gardner on Gardner:
JPBM Communications
Award Presentation.
Focus: The
Newsletter of the
Mathematical
Association of
America, v. 14, no.
6, December 1994.