--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is even possible that laws which have…" description: "\"It is even possible that laws which have not their origin in the mind may be irrational, and we can never succeed in formulating them.\" — Arthur Eddington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/arthur-eddington-8366_irrational_it-is-even-possible-that-laws-which-have_704306.png" --- # It is even possible that laws which have not their origin… ![“It is even possible that laws which have not their origin in the mind may be irrational, and we can never succeed in formulating them.” quote by Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/arthur-eddington-8366_irrational_it-is-even-possible-that-laws-which-have_704306.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/arthur-eddington-8366_irrational_it-is-even-possible-that-laws-which-have_704306.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/arthur-eddington-8366_irrational_it-is-even-possible-that-laws-which-have_704306.png) > “It is even possible that laws which have not their origin in the mind may be irrational, and we can never succeed in formulating them.” [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Laws not derived from human thought may be irrational, and we may never fully formulate them. **In simple terms:** Human‑origin laws may be irrational and elusive. Key Takeaway Accept limits of human understanding in law formation. Themes philosophy science epistemology Mood thoughtful skeptical Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - scientific research - philosophical debate - policy drafting - education curricula Key Concepts law of nature rationality conceptual limits Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean for a law to be irrational? - Can we ever fully understand nature’s laws? 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It is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/observation-and-theory-get-on-best-when-they-are-mixed-together-both/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Proof is an idol before which the mathematician tortures himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/proof-is-an-idol-before-which-the-mathematician-tortures-himself/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [It is one thing for the human mind to extract from the phenomena of nature the laws which it has itself put into them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/it-is-one-thing-for-the-human-mind-to-extract-from-the-phenomena-of/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Don't believe the results of experiments until they're confirmed by theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/don-t-believe-the-results-of-experiments-until-they-re-confirmed-by/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [Probably the simplest hypothesis... is that there may be a slow process of annihilation of matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/probably-the-simplest-hypothesis-is-that-there-may-be-a-slow-process/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [There was a time when we wanted to be told what an electron is. 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