John Napier quotes - page 2

John Napier was a Scottish mathematician best known for inventing logarithms. His work greatly simplified complex calculations and influenced the development of mathematics and science. He also invented "Napier’s Bones," a manual calculating device widely used in his time. Here are 59 of his quotes:

22 Proposition. The Woman clad with the Sunne (chap. 12) is the true Church of God. (John Napier)
If a first sine be multiplied into a second producing a third, the Logarithm of the first added to the Logarithm of the second produces the Logarithm of the third. So in division, the Logarithm of the divisor subtracted from the Logarithm of the dividend leaves the Logarithm of the quotient. View quote
John Napier
17 Proposition. The description of the throne of God in the fourth chapter, is not the description of the majestie of God in heaven, but of his true religion, wherein he is authorised and sits in the throne among his holy elect on earth. View quote
John Napier
But now, some of our countrymen in this island, well affected to these studies, and the more public good, procured a most learned mathematician to translate the same into our vulgar English tongue, who after he had finished it, sent a copy of it to me, to be seen and considered on by myself. I having most willingly and gladly done the same, find it to be most exact and precisely conformable to my mind and the original. Therefore it may please you who are inclined to these studies, to receive it from me and the translator, with as much good will as we recommend it unto you.-Fare thee well. View quote
John Napier
10 Proposition. The last Trumpet and Viall beginneth anno Christe 1541 and should end in anno Christi 1786. View quote
John Napier
2. Proposition. The Seven Trumpets of the 8. and 9. chapters, and the Seven Vials of the 16. Chapter, are all one. View quote
John Napier
4 Proposition. The kinges of the East, or four Angels, specified in the sixt trumpet, or sixt vial. Cap. 9. & 16. are the four nations, Mahometanes beyond and about Euphrates, who began their empire by Ottoman, in the yeare of Christ, 1296. or thereabout. View quote
John Napier
A Logarithmic Table is a small table by the use of which we can obtain a knowledge of all geometrical dimensions and motions in space, by a very easy calculation. It is deservedly called very small, because it does not exceed in size a table of sines; very easy, because by it all multiplications, divisions, and the more difficult extractions of roots are avoided; for by only a very few most easy additions, subtractions, and divisions by two, it measures quite generally all figures and motions. View quote
John Napier
So ends this demonstratiue resolution of all difficulties of the Revelation, first of all dates and times, and last of the principall termes and matters, as to the meaner termes and smaller matters, they are interpreted in the notes of the principall treatise. View quote
John Napier
To decrease geometrically is this, that in equal times, first the whole quantity then each of its successive remainders is diminished, always by a like proportional part. View quote
John Napier
Conclusion. Then for conclusion, by these interpretative propositions, followeth foure thinges marvelous and notable. First, that the interpretation of every parte of the Revelation, is accessorie or consectarie to other: that is to say, it is so chained and linked together, that every mysterie opens other to the discoverie of the whole. Secondly, that the first halfe of the book is orderly, that is to say, it containeth in order of time the most notable accidents that concerneth Gods Church, from the time of Christs Baptisme successively to the latter day. Thirdly, that every historie prophecied, is limited or dated with his own nŭber of years. Fourthly and last of all, that whatsoever historie is more orderlie and summarlie, than plainly set downe in the first orderlie parte of the booke, the same is repeated, interpreted, or amplified in the last part of the booke: deviding the whole Revelation according to the table following, before we proceed to the principall matter. (John Napier)
It is picked out from numbers progressing in continuous proportion. Of continuous progressions, an arithmetical is one which proceeds by equal intervals; a geometrical one which advances by unequal and proportionally increasing or decreasing intervals. Arithmetical progressions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, &c.; or 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, &c, Geometrical progressions: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, &c.; or 243, 81, 27, 9, 3, 1. View quote
John Napier
32 Proposition. Gog is the Pope, and Magog is the Turkes and Mahometanes. View quote
John Napier
23 Proposition. The Whoore, who in the Revelation is Stiled Spirituall Babylon, is not reallie Babylon, but the verie present Citie of Rome. View quote
John Napier
11 Proposition. The Seven Thunders, whose voices are commanded to bee sealed, and not written (cap.10.4.) are the Seven Angels, specified cap.14. vers. 6.8.9.14.15.17.18. View quote
John Napier
35 Proposition. The Devils bondage a thousand yeares (cap. 20) is no waies els, but from stirring up of universall warres among nations. View quote
John Napier
Any desired geometrical mean between two sines has for its Logarithm the corresponding arithmetical mean between the Logarithms of the sines. View quote
John Napier
20 Proposition. Gods Temple, although in heaven, is also taken for his holy Church among his heavenly Elect upon the earth, and metonymicè for the whole contents thereof. View quote
John Napier
Arrange all these results as described, and you will produce a Table, certainly the most excellent of all Mathematical tables, and prepared for the most important uses. View quote
John Napier
I found at length some excellent brief rules. View quote
John Napier
12 Proposition. The first of the Seven thunders, and the seventh and last Trumpet or Viall, begin both at once in An.1541. (John Napier)
21 Proposition. The two witnesses mentioned (Reve.11) are the two Testamĕts, and (metonymicè) the whole true professors thereof. View quote
John Napier
Many computing devices have been used since the invention of the abacus. These include Napier's bones, sector compasses, slide rules, calculators, and computers. View quote
John Napier
Napier also invented a calculating device known as Napier's bones in 1617 and made common use of decimal multiplications and divisions. The device itself does not use logarithms, but rather is a convenient tool to reduce multiplication and division to a sequence of simple addition and subtraction operations. The method employed by Napier's bones was based on Arab mathematics and Fibonacci's Liber Abaci. View quote
John Napier
Napier presented his concept of logarithms as a boon to mankind for, as he pointed out, working with logarithms reduces the drudgery of numerical computations enormously. View quote
John Napier

John Napier

Occupation: Scottish Mathematician
Born: January 22, 1550
Died: April 4, 1617
Quotes count: 59
Wikipedia: John Napier

Related authors

Charles Babbage - thumbnail
Charles Babbage  72 
English Mathematician
Blaise Pascal - thumbnail
Blaise Pascal  343 
French Mathematician
Gottfried Leibniz - thumbnail
Gottfried Leibniz  45 
German Mathematician
Howard H. Aiken - thumbnail
Howard H. Aiken  4 
American Scientist
Ada Lovelace - thumbnail
Ada Lovelace  22 
English Mathematician
George Boole - thumbnail
George Boole  40 
English Mathematician
Isaac Newton - thumbnail
Isaac Newton  198 
English Mathematician
Leonhard Euler - thumbnail
Leonhard Euler  12 
Swiss Mathematician
Jack Kilby  10 
American Scientist
John von Neumann - thumbnail
John von Neumann  34 
Hungarian-American Mathematician