What Isaac Newton thinks about physics

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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.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Isaac Newton on physics. See everyone on physics

5 dated positions, c. 1704–1718 to c. 1713–1726, in their own words. Our reading of what Isaac Newton has said — not written or endorsed by them.

1. c. 1713–1726

   Our readingIt is enough that gravity really exists, acts by the laws explained, and accounts for the motions of the heavens and the sea

   Their wordsAnd 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)en.wikisource.org All 4 from this book

3. c. 1713–1726

   Our readingConclusions drawn by induction from phenomena stand until new phenomena correct them, whatever hypotheses are imagined against them

   Their wordsIn 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)en.wikisource.org All 5 from this book

5. c. 1704–1718

   Our readingThe main business of natural philosophy is to argue from phenomena, without feigning hypotheses, back to a first cause that is not mechanical

   Their wordsWhereas 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)gutenberg.org All 8 from this book

7. c. 1704–1718

   Our readingNature is simple and consistent with itself: gravity moves the heavens, and other attracting and repelling powers move small particles

   Their wordsAnd 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)gutenberg.org All 8 from this book

9. c. 1704–1718

   Our readingMatter was probably made in the beginning as solid, hard, impenetrable, moving particles

   Their wordsit seems probable to me, that God in the Beginning form'd Matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable, moveable Particles

   ↗Opticks (fourth edition, 1730)gutenberg.org All 8 from this book