Quotes to entice and entertain the reader

Some authors make use of epigraphs in their books. An epigraph is a short quotation at the beginning of a chapter that aims to set the stage for what follows. My general observation is that many of the epigraphs are rather obscure and the connection to the content of the chapter is not clear. Perhaps, I am just too ignorant about classical literature, or perhaps some authors are just trying to be too clever. But, sometimes I think they are creative, enticing, and even humorous.

I tried having a go at using epigraphs for Condensed Matter Physics: A Very Short Introduction. Unfortunately, after doing this I discovered that epigraphs are no longer allowed in the VSI series.

Anyway, I had fun doing it and so here I present the epigraphs I came up with.

1 What is condensed matter physics?

… thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” … [they] called the bread manna. [Manna sounds like the Hebrew for What is it?]  It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 16 

2 A multitude of states of matter

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” 

Hamlet

3 Symmetry matters

The chief forms of beauty are order and symmetry and definiteness, which the mathematical sciences demonstrate in a special degree...

Aristotle, Metaphysics

4 The order of things

John Milton, Paradise Lost

5 Adventures in Flatland

Points, Lines, Squares, Cubes, Extra-Cubes — we are all liable to the same errors, all alike the Slaves of our respective Dimensional prejudices

Edwin Abbott, Flatland

6 The critical point

Aristotle answers: "Because only particulars can be perceived, and science is of  universals." ...out of numerous particulars the universal becomes evident.

George Henry Lewes 

7 Quantum matter

"I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics." 

Richard Feynman

8 Topology matters

A mathematician who does not know the difference between a doughnut and a coffee mug is a topologist.

9 Emergence

F. Scott Fitzgerald: “The rich are different from you and me.” 

Ernest Hemingway: “Yes, they have more money.” 

10 The endless frontier

"New frontiers of the mind are before us, and if they are pioneered with the same vision, boldness, and drive with which we have waged this war we can create a fuller and more fruitful employment and a fuller and more fruitful life."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

I believe the times demand new invention, innovation, imagination, decision. I am asking each of you to be pioneers on that New Frontier.

John F. Kennedy

What do you think about epigraphs? 

Can you give a book in which you thought they were particularly good?

What do you think of those above?

I welcome alternative suggestions.

Comments

  1. ThWalkerFebruary 25, 2022 at 11:16 PM

    Excellent epigraphs, especially the one concerning manna. I vaguely recall from grad school days a grand old text, beautifully typeset, with superb epigraphs. I thought it might be Tolman but not so. When will your book be published?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2022 at 4:18 AM

    Nice epigraphs Ross. I look forward to seeing the finished product! Malcolm

    ReplyDelete

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