Raymond Smullyan Professions : Mathematician Born : May 25, 1919 Died : February 10, 2017 Browse All Authors Top 13 quotes by Raymond Smullyan Some people are always critical of vague statements. I tend rather to be critical of precise statements; they are the only ones which can correctly be labeled wrong. Raymond Smullyan critics criticism people Why should I be worried about dying? It's not going to happen in my lifetime! Raymond Smullyan worried dying lifetime Humor could not flourish in a wholly serious and rational atmosphere. Raymond Smullyan rational atmosphere serious All my life I have been intensely repelled by the idea of 'making an effort'. I hate this idea today as much as I did as a child. I don't know why I hate it so much; I just do. Raymond Smullyan hate children ideas I have free will, but not of my own choice. I have never freely chosen to have free will. I have to have free will, whether I like it or not! Raymond Smullyan chosen free-will choices There is nothing like a naturalistic orientation to dispel all these morbid thoughts of "sin" and "free will" and "moral responsibility. Raymond Smullyan moral sin responsibility Recently, someone asked me if I believed in astrology. He seemed somewhat puzzled when I explained that the reason I don't is that I'm a Gemini. Raymond Smullyan puzzled astrology reason I believe that either Jupiter has life or it doesn't. But I neither believe that it does, nor do I believe that it doesn't. Raymond Smullyan jupiter doe believe Metaphysical problems about "mind" versus "matter" arise only from epistemological confusions. Raymond Smullyan confusion matter mind Why should I be worried about death? Raymond Smullyan should-i worried should It has always puzzled me that so many people have taken it for granted that God favors those who believe in him. Isn't it possible that the actual God is a scientific God who has little patience with beliefs founded on faith rather than evidence? Raymond Smullyan taken believe people Why do I act as I do? To tell you the truth, I have absolutely no idea why. It is simply my nature to act as I act, and that's all I can say. Raymond Smullyan no-idea math ideas Because I have been a magician for many years, people have often asked me whether I ever have sawn a woman in half. I reply, Oh, yes I've sawn over seventy women in half in my lifetime, and I'm learning the second half of the trick now. Raymond Smullyan half people years Similar Authors Abram Samoilovitch Besicovitch mathematician Brahmagupta mathematician Augustus De Morgan mathematician Augustin-Louis Cauchy mathematician Atle Selberg mathematician Arthur Cayley mathematician All Authors