Athens Quotes (2 quotes)
In mathematics, which is but a mirror of the society in which it thrives or suffers, the pre-Athenian period is one of colorful men and important discoveries. Sparta, like most militaristic states before and after it, produced nothing. Athens, and the allied Ionians, produced a number of works by philosophers and mathematicians; some good, some controversial, some grossly overrated.
In A History of Pi (1970), 34.
Thucydides noted, presciently, as it turned out, that if Sparta and Athens were reduced to ruins, no one would believe that the two were comparable civilizations, for Sparta did not build great monuments. I would go further—Sparta did not fund great plays, it did not nourish great philosophy or science. Athens did. And so to us, Greece is Athens, and Sparta is a strange anomaly, an afterthought in history. That’s what happens when you stop funding the arts, humanities and sciences. History forgets you.
From @medievalhistory as quoted on webpage titled Whewell’s Gazette (22 Mar 2017), Year 3, Vol. #31, on Wordpress site of whewellsghost.
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) -- 
