Of the eternal corporeal substance (which is not…
“Of the eternal corporeal substance (which is not producible ex nihilo, nor reducible ad nihilum, but rarefiable, condensable, formable, arrangeable, and "fashionable") the composition is dissolved, the complexion is changed, the figure is modified, the being is altered, the fortune is varied, only the elements remaining what they are in substance, that same principle persevering which was always the one material principle, which is the true substance of things, eternal, ingenerable and incorruptible.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
All material things are composed of an eternal substance that can change form but never loses its underlying essence; the constant principle persists despite superficial alterations.
In simple terms: Underlying substance remains unchanged despite changes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the enduring core amidst change.
Themes
philosophy
metaphysics
eternity
change
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
academic
contemplative
When to use this quote
- science
- spirituality
- personal reflection
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
substance theory
continuity
materialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of self are immutable?
- How do we identify the underlying principle?
A Different Perspective
The abstract language may be inaccessible to lay readers.