On Algebra vs. Geometry, Sir Michael Atiyah: 

 I like to think of it in the form of an analogy: 
``Should you be an algebraist or a geometer?''
is like saying ``Would your rather be deaf or blind?''

 [ ... ]

One way to put the dichotomy in a more philosophical or
literary framework is to say that algebra is to the geometer what you might
call the ``Faustian Offer''. As you know, Faust in Goethe's story was 
offered whatever he wanted by the devil in return for selling his soul.
  Algebra is the offer made by the devil to the mathematician.  The devil
says: `` I will give you this powerful machine, and it will answer any question you like. 
All you need to do is give me your soul; give up 
geometry and you will have this marvellous machine. 
Of course we like to have things both ways: we would probably cheat on the devil, 
pretend we are selling our soul, and not give it away. 
Nevertheless the danger to our soul  is there, because when you pass over into algebraic calculation,
 essentially you stop thinking; you  stop thinking geometrically , you stop thinking about the meaning. 
 
--in an article in
the American Mathematical Monthly,  
 v. 108 or 109, Aug. or Sept, 2001