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Charles-Ange Laisant
(1 Nov 1841 - 5 May 1920)
French mathematician who was trained as a military engineer, served in the army, and was a politician. From 1893, he turned to mathematics, published two books on geometric algebra, co-founded a mathematical journal and rose to be president of the French Association for the Advancement of Science.
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Science Quotes by Charles-Ange Laisant (1 quote)
When we think of giving a child a mathematical education we are apt to ask whether he has special aptitudes fitting him to receive it. Do we ask any such questions when we talk of teaching him to read and write?
— Charles-Ange Laisant
In 'Mathematics for Children', Popular Science Monthly (Oct 1899), 187, citing “translated for the Popular Science Monthly from the Revue Scientifique. Also seen paraphrased as “To ask whether a child has an aptitude for mathematics is equivalent to asking whether he has an aptitude for reading and writing,” in William L. Schaaf, 'Memorabilia Mathematica', The Mathematics Teacher (Mar 1957), 50, No. 3, 231.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
