The story may be apocryphal, but the implication is that knowledge is not obtained by birthright.
When Ptolemy I asked if there was a shorter path to learning geometry than Euclid's ElementsEuclid replied, "There is no royal road to geometry."
Euclid, Pythagoras and a nun walk into a bar... No, I can't tell that one. How about Proclus telling a story that, when Ptolemy I asked if there was a shorter path to learning geometry than Euclid's Elements, "Euclid replied, 'There is no royal road to geometry.'"
That there is a 10% slope in the road ahead, meaning it is very steep.
there is a brake down ahead
you will reach the work area in 1000 ft
Euclid to Ptolomey.
When Ptolemy I asked if there was a shorter path to learning geometry than Euclid's ElementsEuclid replied, "There is no royal road to geometry."
Euclid, Pythagoras and a nun walk into a bar... No, I can't tell that one. How about Proclus telling a story that, when Ptolemy I asked if there was a shorter path to learning geometry than Euclid's Elements, "Euclid replied, 'There is no royal road to geometry.'"
Euclid lived during the reign of Ptolemy I and wrote an work made comprised of 13 volumes called Elements. As ruler during his reign (323-283 BC), Ptolemy personally sponsored Euclid, but found his work to hard to comprehend. Once, when Ptolemy asked of Euclid if there was no shorter road to geometry than the Elements, he replied, "Sire, there is no royal road to geometry."It is believed though not proven that Euclid may have studied at Plato's Academy in Greece.
No one really knows what Euclid of Alexandria is like. Most of the documentation about Euclid himself was written after his death by Proclus and Pappus of Alexandria. Very little is known about him, no one even knows the physical appearance of Euclid. According to some of his quotes, Euclid could have been a kind, patient man with a bit of sarcasm. King Ptolemy once asked Euclid if there was an easier way to study math than Elements, to which he then replied, "Sire, there is no royal road to geometry," and sent one of the most powerful kings off to study. On another occasion, a student of his questioned the value of learning geometry, asking, "What do I get by learning these things?" Euclid responded by summoning a slave and replying, "Give him three pence, since he must make a gain of what he learns."
I do not know any quotes and nothing that he wrote survives, but he is supposed to have prompted the quote from Euclid that there is no royal road to geometry. Apparently Alexander was complaining about the difficulty of learning math. He is also supposed to have wept when he learned that he had conquered all the know world and had no more lands to conquer.
royal road
the Royal Road
In California, the royal road is called "El Camino Real". The ice cream shop is right around the corner, on the royal road. The royal road is temporarily closed for repairs, ma'am.
cause it was
The Royal road was important because it let ancient people cross or get to where they needed to be
The Royal road was important because it let ancient people cross or get to where they needed to be