Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier Quotes

… Fourier's great mathematical poem ...

{Referring to Joseph Fourier's mathematical theory of the conduction of heat, one of the precursors to thermodynamics.} ~ William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin

{Comment to Delambre on chemist Antoine Lavoisier's execution during the French Revolution}

Only a moment to cut off that head and a hundred years may not give us another like it. ~ Joseph-Louis Lagrange

Music like religion, unconditionally brings in its train all the moral virtues to the heart it enters, even though that heart is not in the least worthy. ~ Jean-Baptiste Joseph Emile Montegut

When one day Lagrange took out of his pocket a paper which he read at the Académe, and which contained a demonstration of the famous Postulatum of Euclid, relative to the theory of parallels. This demonstration rested on an obvious paralogism, which appeared as such to everybody; and probably Lagrange also recognised it such during his lecture. For, when he had finished, he put the paper back in his pocket, and spoke no more of it. A moment of universal silence followed, and one passed immediately to other concerns. ~ Jean-Baptiste Biot

If you think about it, I made history. Not only was I the first black British woman to be nominated for an Oscar, I was the first black British person. ~ Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Like Molière's M. Jourdain, who spoke prose all his life without knowing it, mathematicians have been reasoning for at least two millennia without being aware of all the principles underlying what they were doing. The real nature of the tools of their craft has become evident only within recent times A renaissance of logical studies in modern times begins with the publication in 1847 of George Boole's 'The Mathematical Analysis of Logic'. ~ Ernest Nagel

An uniformity of weights and measures, arranged upon mathematical principles, would be a benefit to the whole commercial world, if it were wise enough to adopt such an expedient. ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

Never lose the first impression which has moved you. ~ Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Opulent, civilized, and industrious nations, are greater consumers than poor ones, because they are infinitely greater producers. ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

Do we wish men to be virtuous? Then let us begin by making them love their country. ~ Jean-Baptiste Rousseau

Mathematics compares the most diverse phenomena and discovers the secret analogies that unite them. ~ Joseph Fourier

How many attempts, now happy, now unhappy! ... He who has not felt the difficulties of his art does nothing that counts. ~ Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin

Be guided by feelings alone. Abandon yourself to your first impression. If you really have been touched, you will convey to others the sincerity of your emotion. ~ Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Political economy has only become a science since it has been confined to the results of inductive investigation. ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

The command of a large sum is a dangerous temptation to a national administration. Though accumulated at their expense, the people rarely, if ever profit by it: yet in point of fact, all value, and consequently, all wealth, originates with the people. ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

The luxury of ostentation affords a much less substantial and solid gratification, than the luxury of comfort, if I may be allowed the expression. ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

Readiness of speech is often inability to hold the tongue. ~ Jean-Baptiste Rousseau

However, if we consider that all the characteristics which have been cited are only differences in degree of structure, may we not suppose that this special condition of organization of man has been gradually acquired at the close of a long period of time, with the aid of circumstances which have proved favorable? What a subject for reflection for those who have the courage to enter into it! ~ Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

What is the motive which operates in every man's breast to counteract the impulse towards the gratification of his wants and appetites? ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

A treasure does not always contribute to the political security of its possessors. It rather invites attack, and very seldom is faithfully applied to the purpose for which it was destined. ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

In preparing a study or a picture, it seems to me very important to begin by an indication of the darkest values ... and to continue in order to the lightest value. From the darkest to the lightest I would establish twenty shades. ~ Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Capital cannot be more beneficially employed, then in strengthening and aiding the productive powers of nature. ~ Jean-Baptiste Say

The first step to be taken, is to study carefully the fundamental phenomenon above described, and to examine all the various circumstances under which it presents itself. ~ Jean-Baptiste Biot

Charity is that sweet-smelling savor of Jesus Christ, which vanishes and is extinguished from the moment that it is exposed. ~ Jean Baptiste Massillon

By the clock of St Jean Baptiste, that dream remained scarce fifteen minutes
a brief space, but sufficing to wring my whole frame with unknown anguish; to confer a nameless experience that had the hue, the mien, the terror, the very tone of a visitation from eternity. Between twelve and one that night a cup was forced to my lips, black, strong, strange, drawn from no well, but filled up seething from a bottomless and boundless sea. Suffering, brewed in temporal or calculable measure, and mixed for mortal lips, tastes not as this suffering tasted. ~ Charlotte Bronte

There needs to be more film directors of colour. They bandy about the word 'diversity' a lot, but when I say 'of colour,' I mean Asian, black - I mean people of all colour. We need to have those voices given the opportunity, not told that their films will not be distributed or will not sell well abroad. ~ Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Jean-Baptiste Mondino: "She's John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the same time". ~ Madonna Ciccone

In organic chemistry there exist certain types which are conserved even when, in place of hydrogen, equal volumes of chlorine, of bromine, etc. are introduced. ~ Jean-Baptiste Dumas

The universe shows us the life of God, or rather it is in itself the life of God. We behold in it his permanent action, the scene upon which his power is exercised, and in which all his attributes are reflected. God is not out of the universe any more than the universe is out of God. God is the principle, the universe is the consequence, but a necessary consequence, without which the principle would be inert, unfruitful, impossible to conceive. ~ Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire

Heavens, how charming it is! There is now in the sky only the soft vaporous color of pale citron - the last reflection of the sun which plunges into the dark blue of the night, going from green tones to a pale turquoise of an unheard-of fineness and a fluid delicacy quite indescribable ... ~ Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Vincent gestures toward Gaspard, who steps forward to face us. "We say good-bye to our longtime leader, Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Balthazar Grimod de la Reynière," Gaspard says in a wavering voice. "He died sacrificing his life for another on the battlefield in Borodino, September 7, 1812. Jean-Baptiste was dedicated to the preservation of his kindred, willing to do anything to ensure their survival." Gaspard's face twists with emotion when he says this, but he forces his shoulders back and raises his chin.
He pulls something from his belt, and I recognize Jean-Baptiste's beloved sword-cane topped with its carved wooden falcon's head. Facing the fire, Gaspard says, "My dear Jean-Baptiste. My love. I will mourn your loss until we are reunited in the next life." And he throws the cane onto the fire. ~ Amy Plum