Who said “Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking…”?

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Bertrand Russell. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceRecent Work on the Principles of Mathematics, published in International Monthly, Vol. 4 (1901), later published as "Mathematics and the Metaphysicians" in Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays (1917)

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“Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true.”
VerifiedRecent Work on the Principles of Mathematics, published in International Monthly, Vol. 4 (1901), later published as "Mathematics and the Metaphysicians" in Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays (1917) · evidenceMathematics
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Recent Work on the Principles of Mathematics, published in International Monthly, Vol. 4 (1901), later published as "Mathematics and the Metaphysicians" in Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays (1917).

APA

Russell, B. (n.d.). Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28358-mathematics-may-be-defined-as-the-subject-in/

MLA

Russell, Bertrand. “Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28358-mathematics-may-be-defined-as-the-subject-in/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Russell, Bertrand. “Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28358-mathematics-may-be-defined-as-the-subject-in/.