I was just emailed this quote which amused me

[purplecat]

The good Christian should beware the mathematician and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of hell. ST AUGUSTINE (354-430)

Comments

[joereaves.livejournal.com]

Wasn't he also the one that advised that when men have unnatural desires (ie they want any kind of sex but missionary position in the pursuit of procreation) they should seek out whores/fallen women, as there are two kinds of women in the world, the good, pure women they married and fallen women and it's best not to sully the former ...

[kargicq.livejournal.com]

Sextus Empiricus wrote a whole book, "Against the Mathematicians," full of invective, which makes for great reading today. (Of course, the most common meaning of 'mathematician' in the Ancient World was 'astrologer', so it does make some sense.)

[purplecat]

Now that I didn't know. As with so much of life, it's not nearly as funny in context is it?

[kargicq.livejournal.com]

Sorry to have spoiled the fun. (Much of mathematics in the ancient world was linked to astrology, hence the confusion.) Let me make up for it with a High Mediaeval (1360s?) quotation:

"A prince […] must not know the demonstrations of Ptolemy, nor strive to understand the planets, nor study astrolabes or such things, even if the abstention is painful to him […] for it is certain that a prince who gave too much pains to these subjects would not be considered wise but fanciful."

(Nicolas Oresme, Livre de divinations)

[madscribbles.livejournal.com]

I always knew math was EEEEEEEVIL!

Just kidding. Well, okay, math is evil but St. Augustine was a douche-bag.

[rodlox.livejournal.com]

very cool quote.

it engenders plot bunnies. and its cool for other reasons too. :)