Isaac Newton
English mathematician and physicist (1642 to 1727), Lucasian professor at Cambridge and later Master of the Royal Mint; author of the Principia and the Opticks.
Isaac Newton did not write this page. ppll compiled it from their own words, each linked to the source. Is this you? · Report a mistake
What they believe
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Admit no more causes of natural things than are both true and sufficient to explain them
We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.
en.wikisource.orgSaid c. 1713–1726This on korrents
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I frame no hypotheses about the cause of gravity: whatever is not deduced from the phenomena is a hypothesis
But hitherto I have not been able to discover the cause of those properties of gravity from phænomena, and I frame no hypotheses; for whatever is not deduced from the phænomena is to be called an hypothesis
en.wikisource.orgSaid c. 1713–1726This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These 2: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 20 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
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Admit no more causes of natural things than are both true and sufficient to explain them
We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
Nature is pleased with simplicity and has no use for superfluous causes
To this purpose the philosophers say that Nature does nothing in vain, and more is in vain when less will serve; for Nature is pleased with simplicity, and affects not the pomp of superfluous causes.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
The same natural effects should, as far as possible, be given the same causes
Therefore to the same natural effects we must, as far as possible, assign the same causes.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
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Never give up the evidence of experiments for dreams and fictions of our own devising
We are certainly not to relinquish the evidence of experiments for the sake of dreams and vain fictions of our own devising; nor are we to recede from the analogy of Nature, which uses to be simple, and always consonant to itself.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
Conclusions drawn by induction from phenomena stand until new phenomena correct them, whatever hypotheses are imagined against them
In experimental philosophy we are to look upon propositions collected by general induction from phænomena as accurately or very nearly true, notwithstanding any contrary hypotheses that may be imagined, till such time as other phænomena occur, by which they may either be made more accurate, or liable to exceptions.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
I frame no hypotheses about the cause of gravity: whatever is not deduced from the phenomena is a hypothesis
But hitherto I have not been able to discover the cause of those properties of gravity from phænomena, and I frame no hypotheses; for whatever is not deduced from the phænomena is to be called an hypothesis
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
It is enough that gravity really exists, acts by the laws explained, and accounts for the motions of the heavens and the sea
And to us it is enough that gravity does really exist, and act according to the laws which we have explained, and abundantly serves to account for all the motions of the celestial bodies, and of our sea.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
The system of sun, planets and comets could only come from an intelligent and powerful Being
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 Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
We know the attributes of things, never their real substance
We have ideas of his attributes, but what the real substance of any thing is we know not.
The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition) Said c. 1713–1726
The properties of light should be proved by reason and experiments, not explained by hypotheses
My Design in this Book is not to explain the Properties of Light by Hypotheses, but to propose and prove them by Reason and Experiments
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
The main business of natural philosophy is to argue from phenomena, without feigning hypotheses, back to a first cause that is not mechanical
Whereas the main Business of natural Philosophy is to argue from Phænomena without feigning Hypotheses, and to deduce Causes from Effects, till we come to the very first Cause, which certainly is not mechanical
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
In natural philosophy, as in mathematics, analysis should always come before synthesis
As in Mathematicks, so in Natural Philosophy, the Investigation of difficult Things by the Method of Analysis, ought ever to precede the Method of Composition.
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
Induction from experiments demonstrates nothing, but it is the best way of arguing that nature allows
And although the arguing from Experiments and Observations by Induction be no Demonstration of general Conclusions; yet it is the best way of arguing which the Nature of Things admits of, and may be looked upon as so much the stronger, by how much the Induction is more general.
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
Explaining things by hidden 'occult qualities' tells us nothing
To tell us that every Species of Things is endow'd with an occult specifick Quality by which it acts and produces manifest Effects, is to tell us nothing
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
Matter was probably made in the beginning as solid, hard, impenetrable, moving particles
it seems probable to me, that God in the Beginning form'd Matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable, moveable Particles
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
Perfecting natural philosophy will also enlarge the bounds of moral philosophy
And if natural Philosophy in all its Parts, by pursuing this Method, shall at length be perfected, the Bounds of Moral Philosophy will be also enlarged.
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
Nature is simple and consistent with itself: gravity moves the heavens, and other attracting and repelling powers move small particles
And thus Nature will be very conformable to her self and very simple, performing all the great Motions of the heavenly Bodies by the Attraction of Gravity which intercedes those Bodies, and almost all the small ones of their Particles by some other attractive and repelling Powers which intercede the Particles.
Opticks (fourth edition, 1730) Said c. 1704–1718
He wrote the Principia with an eye to principles that would bring thinking people to believe in a God
When I wrote my treatise about our Systeme I had an eye upon such Principles as might work with considering men for the beleife of a Deity & nothing can rejoyce me more then to find it usefull for that purpose
Letter to Richard Bentley, 10 December 1692 Said 10 Dec 1692
Whatever service his work did was due to nothing but industry and patient thought
But if I have done the publick any service this way 'tis due to nothing but industry & a patient thought.
Letter to Richard Bentley, 10 December 1692 Said 10 Dec 1692
The planets' present motions could not come from natural causes alone but were impressed by an intelligent agent
To your second Query I answer that the motions which the Planets now have could not spring from any naturall cause alone but were imprest by an intelligent Agent.
Letter to Richard Bentley, 10 December 1692 Said 10 Dec 1692
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