George Pólya

Quotes

• “Analogy pervades all our thinking, our everyday speech and our trivial conclusions as well as artistic ways of expression and the highest scientific achievements.”

• “The best of ideas is hurt by uncritical acceptance and thrives on critical examination.”

• “We need heuristic reasoning when we construct a strict proof as we need scaffolding when we erect a building.”

• “If you cannot solve the proposed problem, try to solve first a simpler related problem.”

• “People tell you that wishful thinking is bad. Do not believe it, this is just one of those generally accepted errors.”

Books by George Pólya in order

Books by George Pólya in the order they were published, from Problems and Theorems in Analysis II (1925) to The Random Walks of George Polya (2000).

1. 1Problems and Theorems in Analysis IIProblems and Theorems in Analysis II1925
2. 2How to Solve ItHow to Solve It1945
3. 3Exact Formulas in the Sequential Analysis of AttributesExact Formulas in the Sequential Analysis of Attributes1948
4. 4Isoperimetric Inequalities in Mathematical PhysicsIsoperimetric Inequalities in Mathematical Physics1951
5. 5Great and Small Examples of Problem SolvingGreat and Small Examples of Problem Solving1953
6. 6Induction and Analogy in MathematicsInduction and Analogy in Mathematics1954
7. 7Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning, Volume 1Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning, Volume 11954
8. 8Mathematical DiscoveryMathematical Discovery1962
9. 9Applied Combinatorial MathematicsApplied Combinatorial Mathematics1964
10. 10Graeffe's Method for EigenvaluesGraeffe's Method for Eigenvalues1967
11. 11Complex VariablesComplex Variables1974
12. 12George PólyaGeorge Pólya1974
13. 13Location of ZerosLocation of Zeros1974
14. 14The Stanford Mathematics Problem BookThe Stanford Mathematics Problem Book1974
15. 15Mathematical Methods in ScienceMathematical Methods in Science1977
16. 16A Arte De Resolver ProblemasA Arte De Resolver Problemas1978
17. 17Vom Losen Mathematischer Aufgaben-Einsicht Und Entdeckung, LVom Losen Mathematischer Aufgaben-Einsicht Und Entdeckung, Lernen Und Lehren1980
18. 18Notes on Introductory CombinatoricsNotes on Introductory Combinatorics1983
19. 19AnalysisAnalysis1984
20. 20Probability ; Combinatorics ; Teaching and Learning in MatheProbability ; Combinatorics ; Teaching and Learning in Mathematics1984
21. 21Combinatorial Enumeration of Groups, Graphs, and Chemical CoCombinatorial Enumeration of Groups, Graphs, and Chemical Compounds1987
22. 22The Pólya picture albumThe Pólya picture album1987
23. 23Problems and Theorems in Analysis IProblems and Theorems in Analysis I1997
24. 24The Random Walks of George PolyaThe Random Walks of George Polya2000