The Corner

Eponym

A reader: “Could Hilbert the hamster be related in any way to Hilbert the mathematician?”

[Derb]  Only if you cleave to the doctrine of metempsychosis.

“Aber meine Herren, wir sind doch in einer Universität und nicht in einer Badeanstalt.”—David Hilbert (i.e. the mathematician, not the hamster), quoted in Unknown Quantity, p.343.

John Derbyshire — Mr. Derbyshire is a former contributing editor of National Review.
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