Ada Lovelace
English mathematician and writer (1815 to 1852), chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's proposed analytical engine; she translated Luigi Menabrea's paper on it and added seven explanatory notes.
Ada Lovelace did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Our reading
The science of operations is a science in itself with its own abstract truth and value, as logic is
Their wordsBut the science of operations, as derived from mathematics more especially, is a science of itself, and has its own abstract truth and value; just as logic has its own peculiar truth and value, independently of the subjects to which we may apply its reasonings and processes.
↗Notes by the Translator, Sketch of the Analytical Engine (Scientific Memoirs, 1843)fourmilab.ch 1st of 6 in this piece
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Their wordsAgain, it might act upon other things besides number, were objects found whose mutual fundamental relations could be expressed by those of the abstract science of operations, and which should be also susceptible of adaptations to the action of the operating notation and mechanism of the engine. Supposing, for instance, that the fundamental relations of pitched sounds in the science of harmony and of musical composition were susceptible of such expression and adaptations, the engine might compose elaborate and scientific pieces of music of any degree of complexity or extent.
↗Notes by the Translator, Sketch of the Analytical Engine (Scientific Memoirs, 1843)fourmilab.ch 2nd of 6 in this piece
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Our reading
The analytical engine weaves algebraic patterns as the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves
Their wordsWe may say most aptly, that the Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard-loom weaves flowers and leaves.
↗Notes by the Translator, Sketch of the Analytical Engine (Scientific Memoirs, 1843)fourmilab.ch 3rd of 6 in this piece
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Their wordsA new, a vast, and a powerful language is developed for the future use of analysis, in which to wield its truths so that these may become of more speedy and accurate practical application for the purposes of mankind than the means hitherto in our possession have rendered possible.
↗Notes by the Translator, Sketch of the Analytical Engine (Scientific Memoirs, 1843)fourmilab.ch 4th of 6 in this piece
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Their wordsIn considering any new subject, there is frequently a tendency, first, to overrate what we find to be already interesting or remarkable; and, secondly, by a sort of natural reaction, to undervalue the true state of the case, when we do discover that our notions have surpassed those that were really tenable.
↗Notes by the Translator, Sketch of the Analytical Engine (Scientific Memoirs, 1843)fourmilab.ch 5th of 6 in this piece
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Their wordsThe Analytical Engine has no pretensions whatever to originate anything. It can do whatever we know how to order it to perform. It can follow analysis; but it has no power of anticipating any analytical relations or truths.
↗Notes by the Translator, Sketch of the Analytical Engine (Scientific Memoirs, 1843)fourmilab.ch 6th of 6 in this piece
The line under a date fills as the words age, a quarter at a time: past a month, six months, a year, and three years. Empty means said within the last month; full, more than three years ago. It says when, not whether it still holds — a change of mind is marked on the claim itself.
Dashed means we only know the words existed by that date; they may be older.