"We in science are spoiled by the success of mathematics. Mathematics is the study of problems so simple that they have good solutions"
- Whitfield Diffie
About this Quote
This quote by Whitfield Diffie talks to the success of mathematics and how it has actually ruined researchers. Mathematics is a discipline that is able to fix issues that are basic sufficient to have excellent options. This remains in contrast to the more complex issues that scientists often deal with, which can be difficult to solve. Diffie is suggesting that scientists should be grateful for the success of mathematics, as it offers a reliable method to solve certain problems. He is also implying that researchers should know the restrictions of mathematics and not count on it too heavily when tackling more intricate issues. Diffie's quote is a pointer that mathematics is a powerful tool, however it is not a panacea for all scientific problems.