What is the poetry of mathematics?

Question

In computer science it's often noted, said or agreed on that algorithms are the poetry of computer science. What is considered the poetry of mathematics? Is it statistics? If there is something agreed on of course, like from a famous quote of a mathematician or so.

Answer 1

Proofs are the poetry of mathematics. Even the most simple proofs are beautiful.

Proof: $0a = 0$ $$0a = (1-1)a = a - a = 0$$

Proof: The number of primes is infinite.

Assume that the number is finite. Suppose that $p_1=2 < p_2 = 3 < ... < p_r$ are all of the primes. Let $P = p_1p_2...p_r+1$ and let p be a prime dividing P; then p can not be any of $p_1, p_2, ..., p_r$, otherwise p would divide the difference $P-p_1p_2...p_r=1$, which is impossible. So this prime p is still another prime, and $p_1, p_2, ..., p_r$ would not be all of the primes.

Proofs are beautiful. Based on a few axioms, we can describe wonders.

Answer 2

Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty — a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show. The true spirit of delight, the exaltation, the sense of being more than Man, which is the touchstone of the highest excellence, is to be found in mathematics as surely as poetry.

-- Bertrand Russell, "The Study of Mathematics" (1919)