Portrait of Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton

Laws of motion and gravity

Early Modern influential 89 sayings

Sayings by Isaac Newton

I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.

c. 1720 — Reflecting on the South Sea Bubble financial crash.
Biblical Confirmed

Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.

Approximate, aligns with his theological writings — Reflecting on the design of the universe as evidence for God.
Nature & World Confirmed

I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.

Approximate — Statement about his religious beliefs.
Biblical Unverifiable

I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.

Approximate — Statement about his religious beliefs.
Biblical Confirmed

Oh, Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest what mischief thou hast done!

c. 1690 — Anecdote about his dog Diamond overturning a candle and burning his papers.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Oh, Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest what mischief thou hast done!

c. 1690 — Anecdote about his dog Diamond overturning a candle and burning his papers.
Wisdom Confirmed

This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.

Approximate, from his scientific or theological works — Reflecting on the divine origin of the cosmos.
Nature & World Confirmed

To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age. 'Tis much better to do a little with certainty, & leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of any thing.

1704 — Statement from unpublished notes for the Preface to Opticks.
Nature & World Unverifiable

To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age. 'Tis much better to do a little with certainty, & leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of any thing.

1704 — Statement from unpublished notes for the Preface to Opticks.
Nature & World Confirmed

Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.

Approximate, aligns with his philosophical/theological views — A statement on the limits of scientific explanation and the role of a divine creator.
Nature & World Confirmed

Can it be by accident that all birds beasts and men have their right side and left side alike shaped (except in their bowels) and just two eyes and no more on either side the face & just two ears on either side the head and a nose with two holes and no more between the eyes & one mouth under the nose and either two fore leggs or two wings or two arms on the sholders & two leggs on the hipps one on either side & no more?

Approximate, from his theological notes — A rhetorical question from his theological musings, arguing for intelligent design.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Can it be by accident that all birds beasts and men have their right side and left side alike shaped (except in their bowels) and just two eyes and no more on either side the face & just two ears on either side the head and a nose with two holes and no more between the eyes & one mouth under the nose and either two fore leggs or two wings or two arms on the sholders & two leggs on the hipps one on either side & no more?

Approximate, from his theological notes — A rhetorical question from his theological musings, arguing for intelligent design.
Wisdom Confirmed

Plato is my friend, Aristotle is my friend, but truth is more my friend.

Undetermined, likely before 1700 — A common variant of a Latin saying, attributed to Newton in various contexts.
Wisdom Unverifiable

If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.

1676 — Letter to Robert Hooke
Wisdom Confirmed

I built my first telescope with my own hands.

Undetermined, referring to early work — Reported statement
Wisdom Unverifiable

Errors are not in the art but in the artificers.

Undetermined — Likely from his writings or correspondence
Art & Creativity Confirmed

Truth is the offspring of silence and meditation.

Undetermined — Likely from his writings or correspondence
Wisdom Confirmed

The great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

1726 or 1727 — Reported deathbed reflection, or shortly before his death
Educational Unverifiable

To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man or even for any one age.

1704 — From 'Opticks'
Nature & World Confirmed

Hypotheses non fingo. (I frame no hypotheses.)

1713 (2nd edition) — From 'Principia Mathematica', General Scholium
Wisdom Unverifiable
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