According to their [Newton and his followers] doctrine…
![“According to their [Newton and his followers] doctrine, God Almighty wants to wind up his watch from time to time: otherwise it would cease to move. He had not, it seems, sufficient foresight to make it a perpetual motion. Nay, the machine of God's making, so imperfect, according to these…” quote by Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/a9d/gottfried-leibniz-3585_almighty_according-to-their-newton-and-his-follow_2699354.png)
“According to their [Newton and his followers] doctrine, God Almighty wants to wind up his watch from time to time: otherwise it would cease to move. He had not, it seems, sufficient foresight to make it a perpetual motion. Nay, the machine of God's making, so imperfect, according to these gentlemen; that he is obliged to clean it now and then by an extraordinary concourse, and even to mend it, as clockmaker mends his work.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
God's creation is imperfect, requiring ongoing maintenance like a clock.
In simple terms: God's world needs regular repair.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection, maintain wisely.
Themes
theology
imperfection
maintenance
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- religion
- science
- engineering
Key Concepts
metaphysics
divine design
human responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have to maintain?
- How does imperfection affect faith?
A Different Perspective
Maintenance may be impossible to fully achieve.