IHES
Tribute to Pierre Cartier by Francis Brown
Thomas Edison wrote that genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration. Had he met Pierre Cartier, he would not have omitted the third, and probably the most important ingredient: conversation. Cartier was interested in absolutely everything and loved nothing more than to chat with people, no matter what their background was. Through such discussions and his teaching, he influenced and inspired an entire generation of mathematicians.
Cartier had an encyclopaedic knowledge of mathematics and physics, not to mention history, politics and a whole range of other subjects. He always made time to talk to students, and his conversations were always interspersed, to their delight, with anecdotes about mathematical figures going back half a century or more. He was gifted at rescuing doctoral students who were struggling, or had lost their way, by taking them under his tutelage (I was one of them, and will forever be grateful).
One of my most enduring impressions of Cartier was his open-mindedness. He had the kindness to see mathematicians first and foremost as people, treating them all equally, whether they were students starting out on their career or colleagues at the very top of their field.
Cartier’s reputation led to many invitations from colleagues all over the world well into his eighties (he was already past the age of retirement when I first met him, but he remained active and very energetic for many years afterwards). During one such visit, his host sent a student to collect him at the train station who wasn’t entirely sure who he was supposed to be meeting. After asking his name, the student responded in disbelief “But are you related to THE Cartier?” – it was inconceivable to him that the Pierre Cartier from his textbooks was in front of him. After giving some thought as to how best he should reply, Pierre modestly answered, “Mmmm…. Yes! He was my uncle”.
Cartier believed strongly in the unity of mathematics and physics. He had an unusually broad vision of both subjects, and could see each new development in its proper historical and intellectual context. He taught us that the most important questions are those which have applications in many different fields, and that one should embrace all available techniques to tackle them. He would often say that one should use both hands when doing mathematics, and not keep one hand tied behind one’s back.
Cartier was an ever-constant presence in Bures and for many of us, it is hard to imagine the IHES without him. One always knew he was around from the sound of his booming voice and immediately recognizable laughter. He will be greatly missed.
Photo credit: © Jean-François Dars / IHES
