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Thus, be it understood, to demonstrate a theorem, it is neither necessary nor even advantageous to know what it means. The geometer might be replaced by the "logic piano" imagined by Stanley Jevons; or, if you choose, a machine might be imagined where the assumptions were put in at one end, while the theorems came out at the other, like the legendary Chicago machine where the pigs go in alive and come out transformed into hams and sausages. No more than these machines need the mathematician know what he does.
In J. R. Newman (ed.) The World of Mathematics, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1956.
Loci: Convergence
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Mathematical Treasures
Christopher Clavius's Opera Mathematica
Christopher Clavius S. J. (1537 - 1612) was a German mathematician and astronomer. Renowned as a teacher and writer of textbooks, Clavius was particularly active in the reform of the Gregorian calendar. This is the title page of his collected works, Opera Mathematica, (1612), five volumes. The first volume contains his commentaries on Euclid and the “Spheric” of Theodosius. The second volume contains his works on algebra and geometry and the third volume contains a commentary on Sarobosco’s “Sphaera” An account of the construction of sundials is given in the fourth volume, while the last volume contains information on calendar reform.
The English translation of this page is as follows:
Christopher Clavius of Bamberg and the Society of Jesus Mathematical Works in five volumes, now once more corrected by the author and revised in many places. Dedicated to the Most Reverend and Illustrious Prince and Lord, Dom John Geoffrey, Bishop of Bamberg at Mainz printed by Reinhard Eltz, at the expense of Anthony Heirat, with leave and permission of His Majesty the Holy Emperor. In the year of Our Lord1612. God has given me the knowledge of the progress of the years and of the constellations of the stars. Wisdom 7,19.
Index of problem demonstrations from volume 1 of Clavius’ Opera.