In this collection of timeless wisdom, we delve into the profound thoughts and reflections of Sir Isaac Newton, one of history's greatest minds. These carefully curated quotes provide insights not only into Newton's scientific genius but also into his philosophical musings about life, nature, and the universe. Through this exploration, you will find inspiration in Newton's unique perspective on inquiry, discovery, perseverance, and the interconnectedness of all things. His words remind us of the power of curiosity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge, urging us to see beyond the surface of the natural world and tap into the deeper truths that govern it.
Discovery Quotes
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean."
"No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess."
"Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy."
"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
"Plato is my friend – Aristotle is my friend – but my greatest friend is truth."
"Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."
"A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding."
"When two forces unite, their efficiency double."
"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy."
"The more I study, the more I know; the more I know, the more I forget."
"As a blind man has no idea of colors, so have we no idea of the manner by which the all-wise God perceives and understands all things."
Nature Quotes
"Nature does nothing in vain when less will serve; for Nature is pleased with simplicity and affects not the pomp of superfluous causes."
"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion."
"To me there has never been a higher source of earthly honor or distinction than that connected with advances in science."
"All variety of created objects which represent order and life in the universe could happen only by the willful reasoning of its original Creator, whom I call the Lord God."
"To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age."
"The description of right lines and circles, upon which geometry is founded, belongs to mechanics."
"The motions which the planets now have could not spring from any natural cause alone, but were impressed by an intelligent Agent."
"'Tis much better to do justly, love mercy, walk humbly, than to admire the beauty of the heavens and then defy God."
"The proper method for inquiring after the properties of things is to deduce them from experiments."
"I do not feign hypotheses."
"This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being."
"The moon gravitates towards the earth, and by the force of gravity is always drawn back from a straight motion, and retained in its orbit."
Knowledge Quotes
"To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age."
"The more I study, the more I know; and the more I know, the more I forget."
"Errors are not in the art but in the artificers."
"If others would think as hard as I did, then they would get similar results."
"I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies but not the madness of people."
"You have to make the rules, not follow them."
"Live your life as an Exclamation rather than an Explanation."
"We build too many walls and not enough bridges."
"If I have done great things, it is because I was standing in the closet of others."
"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy."
"It is the weight, not numbers of experiments that is to be regarded."
"Whence arises all that order and beauty we see in the world?"
Perseverance Quotes
"If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent."
"Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise Physician prescribes because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires."
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."
"I keep the subject constantly before me, and wait till the first dawnings open slowly, by little and little, into a full and clear light."
"Errors are not in the art but in the artificers."
"The more time and devotion one spends in the worship of false gods, the less time and devotion one has left for the true God."
"To arrive at the simplest truth requires years of contemplation."
"The wonderful arrangement and harmony of the cosmos would only originate in the plan of an almighty omniscient being."
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean."
"Sir Isaac Newton was a genius, but he added much to his work by taking advantage of the work of many who preceded him and building upon it."
"The true cause is not mechanical force and motion, but the correct cause which is the will and providence of God."
"And to every action there is always an opposite and equal reaction."
Inspiration Quotes
"What is there in the world of which every man quotes by heart?"
"In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence."
" Sir Isaac Newton was a genius."
"If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants."
"To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age."
"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."
"No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess."
"To me there has never been a higher source of earthly honor or distinction than that connected with advances in science."
"The business of science is to make conjectures in order to explain natural phenomena."
"All variety of created objects which represent order and life in the universe could happen only by the willful reasoning of its original Creator, whom I call the Lord God."
"A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding."
"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion."
Understanding Quotes
"Errors are not in the art but in the artificers."
"To arrive at the simplest truth requires years of contemplation."
"The description of right lines and circles, upon which geometry is founded, belongs to mechanics."
"No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess."
"I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people."
"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy."
"We build too many walls and not enough bridges."
"As a blind man has no idea of colors, so have we no idea of the manner by which the all-wise God perceives and understands all things."
"This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being."
"You have to make the rules, not follow them."
"Whence arises all that order and beauty we see in the world?"
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean."
Innovation Quotes
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."
"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."
"Errors are not in the art but in the artificers."
"If others would think as hard as I did, then they would get similar results."
"I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people."
"You have to make the rules, not follow them."
"Live your life as an Exclamation rather than an Explanation."
"We build too many walls and not enough bridges."
"If I have done great things, it is because I was standing in the closet of others."
"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy."
"It is the weight, not numbers of experiments that is to be regarded."
"Whence arises all that order and beauty we see in the world?"
Truth Quotes
"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."
"Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."
"Plato is my friend – Aristotle is my friend – but my greatest friend is truth."
"A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding."
"When two forces unite, their efficiency double."
"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy."
"The more I study, the more I know; the more I know, the more I forget."
"As a blind man has no idea of colors, so have we no idea of the manner by which the all-wise God perceives and understands all things."
"Errors are not in the art but in the artificers."
"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion."
"To me there has never been a higher source of earthly honor or distinction than that connected with advances in science."
"We build too many walls and not enough bridges."
Philosophy Quotes
"If I have discovered anything valuable, it is due more to patient attention than to any other talent."
"Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise Physician prescribes because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires."
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."
"I keep the subject constantly before me, and wait till the first dawnings open slowly, by little and little, into a full and clear light."
"Errors are not in the art but in the artificers."
"The more time and devotion one spends in the worship of false gods, the less time and devotion one has left for the true God."
"To arrive at the simplest truth requires years of contemplation."
"The wonderful arrangement and harmony of the cosmos would only originate in the plan of an almighty omniscient being."
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean."
"Sir Isaac Newton was a genius, but he added much to his work by taking advantage of the work of many who preceded him and building upon it."
"The true cause is not mechanical force and motion, but the correct cause which is the will and providence of God."
"And to every action there is always an opposite and equal reaction."
Reflection Quotes
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean."
"No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess."
"Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy."
"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me."
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
"Plato is my friend – Aristotle is my friend – but my greatest friend is truth."
"Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."
"A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding."
"When two forces unite, their efficiency double."
"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy."
"The more I study, the more I know; the more I know, the more I forget."
"As a blind man has no idea of colors, so have we no idea of the manner by which the all-wise God perceives and understands all things."
Final words
In conclusion, the wisdom encapsulated in Isaac Newton's quotes transcends his era, echoing timeless truths that are as relevant today as they were centuries ago. His insights into the nature of discovery, the relentless pursuit of knowledge, and the profound interconnectedness of natural laws remind us of the importance of curiosity and open-mindedness. Newton's words encourage us not only to observe and study but also to question and explore, constantly seeking the deeper truths that lie beneath the surface of what is known. His reflections on perseverance, truth, and simplicity continue to inspire and guide those who step into the realms of science and philosophy. Through this journey of thought led by Newton’s genius, we are reminded that our own quests for understanding and innovation are built upon the foundations laid by great minds before us, urging us to carry forward the torch of inquiry and enlightenment into the future.
