--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every one knows that the heavenly bodies…" description: "\"Every one knows that the heavenly bodies move in certain paths in relation to each other with seeming consistency and regularity which we call [physica..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/clarence-darrow-1714_action_every-one-knows-that-the-heavenly-bodies_2673181.png" --- # Every one knows that the heavenly bodies move in certain… ![“Every one knows that the heavenly bodies move in certain paths in relation to each other with seeming consistency and regularity which we call [physical] law. ... No one attributes freewill or motive to the material world. Is the conduct of man or the other animals any more subject to whim or…” quote by Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/clarence-darrow-1714_action_every-one-knows-that-the-heavenly-bodies_2673181.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/clarence-darrow-1714_action_every-one-knows-that-the-heavenly-bodies_2673181.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/clarence-darrow-1714_action_every-one-knows-that-the-heavenly-bodies_2673181.png) > “Every one knows that the heavenly bodies move in certain paths in relation to each other with seeming consistency and regularity which we call \[physical\] law. ... No one attributes freewill or motive to the material world. Is the conduct of man or the other animals any more subject to whim or choice than the action of the planets? ... We know that man's every act is induced by motives that led or urged him here or there; that the sequence of cause and effect runs through the whole universe, and is nowhere more compelling than with man.” [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human actions are driven by causes, not free will, similar to planetary motions. **In simple terms:** Actions are caused, not chosen. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of causality in behavior. Themes determinism philosophy ethics Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal responsibility - behavioral therapy - education curricula - policy design Key Concepts causality free will debate Questions to Reflect On - How does determinism affect legal judgments? - Can we balance causality with personal responsibility? A Different Perspective Ignoring personal agency can undermine moral accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Attributes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attributes/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cause and effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-and-effect/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Compelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compelling/) [Consistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistency/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Freewill Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freewill-motive-2519333/) [Heavenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavenly/) [Heavenly bodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavenly-bodies/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Material world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-world/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Motives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motives/) [Motives Led](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motives-led-2181697/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Physical Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-law-347330/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Regularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regularity/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Seeming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeming/) [Sequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sequence/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Whim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whim/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [In the temple of science are many mansions ... and various indeed are they that dwell therein and the motives that have led them thither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/in-the-temple-of-science-are-many-mansions-and-various-indeed-are-2/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [In the temple of science are many mansions, and various indeed are they that dwell therein and the motives that have led them thither.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-the-temple-of-science-are-many-mansions-and-various-indeed-are-3/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mathematical-facts-worthy-of-being-studied-are-those-which-by/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [“our brains are a bunch of particles obeying the laws of physics, and there’s no physical law precluding particles from being arranged in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/our-brains-are-a-bunch-of-particles-obeying-the-laws-of-physics-and/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [There's a strong distinction to be made between dry code smart contacts and wet code's physical law. So law is based on our minds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-szabo/there-s-a-strong-distinction-to-be-made-between-dry-code-smart/) [Nick Szabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-szabo/) > [Yet is it possible in terms of the motion of atoms to explain how men can invent an electric motor, or design and build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-compton/yet-is-it-possible-in-terms-of-the-motion-of-atoms-to-explain-how-men-2/) [Arthur Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-compton/) > [Yet is it possible in terms of the motion of atoms to explain how men can invent an electric motor, or design and build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-compton/yet-is-it-possible-in-terms-of-the-motion-of-atoms-to-explain-how-men/) [Arthur Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-compton/) > [We have not to do with a God who is off there above the sky, who can deal with us only through the violations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-matthew-jones/we-have-not-to-do-with-a-god-who-is-off-there-above-the-sky-who-can/) [Rufus Matthew Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-matthew-jones/) > [Entropy is one of the laws of thermodynamics. It's a physical law that says everything in nature is moving from order to disorder. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/entropy-is-one-of-the-laws-of-thermodynamics-it-s-a-physical-law-that/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [“If Henry Adams, whom you knew slightly, could make a theory of history by applying the second law of thermodynamics to human affairs, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/if-henry-adams-whom-you-knew-slightly-could-make-a-theory-of-history/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“Recent experiments in neuroscience support the view that it is our physical brain, following the known laws of science, that determines our actions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/recent-experiments-in-neuroscience-support-the-view-that-it-is-our/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Sometimes nature guards her secrets with the unbreakable grip of physical law. Sometimes the true nature of reality beckons from just beyond the horizon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/sometimes-nature-guards-her-secrets-with-the-unbreakable-grip-of/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [A physical law must possess mathematical beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dirac/a-physical-law-must-possess-mathematical-beauty/) [Paul Dirac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dirac/) > [It is going to be necessary that everything that happens in a finite volume of space and time would have to be analyzable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/it-is-going-to-be-necessary-that-everything-that-happens-in-a-finite/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Even if we ignore the 'non-theoretical' knowledge which we acquire through experience (such as the knowledge of what something tastes like) and concentrate on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/even-if-we-ignore-the-non-theoretical-knowledge-which-we-acquire/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) ## More by Clarence Darrow > [We know life is futile. A man who considers that his life is of very wonderful importance is awfully close to a padded cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/we-know-life-is-futile-a-man-who-considers-that-his-life-is-of-very/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Great wealth often curses all who touch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/great-wealth-often-curses-all-who-touch-it/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Punishment as punishment is not admissible unless the offender has had the free will to select his course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/punishment-as-punishment-is-not-admissible-unless-the-offender-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“One of the bravest, grandest champions of human liberty the world has ever seen. {Darrow on the great Robert Ingersoll }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-of-the-bravest-grandest-champions-of-human-liberty-the-world-has/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I cannot tell and I shall never know how many words of mine might have given birth to cruelty in place of love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-cannot-tell-and-i-shall-never-know-how-many-words-of-mine-might/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and if no man rebelled, those wrongs would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/as-long-as-the-world-shall-last-there-will-be-wrongs-and-if-no-man/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-have-never-killed-a-man-but-i-have-read-many-obituaries-with-great/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/lost-causes-are-the-only-ones-worth-fighting-for/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [One believes in the truthfulness of a man because of his long experience with the man, and because the man has always told a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/one-believes-in-the-truthfulness-of-a-man-because-of-his-long/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Physical deformity, calls forth our charity. But the infinite misfortune of moral deformity calls forth nothing but hatred and vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/physical-deformity-calls-forth-our-charity-but-the-infinite/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Men have always been obliged to fight to preserve liberty. Constitutions and laws do not safeguard liberty. It can be preserved only by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/men-have-always-been-obliged-to-fight-to-preserve-liberty/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“ Robert G. Ingersoll was a great man. a wonderful intellect, a great soul of matchless courage, one of the great men of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/robert-g-ingersoll-was-a-great-man-a-wonderful-intellect-a-great-soul/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Everybody is a potential murderer. I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/everybody-is-a-potential-murderer-i-ve-never-killed-anyone-but-i/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [The first half of our lives are ruined by our parents and the second half by our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/the-first-half-of-our-lives-are-ruined-by-our-parents-and-the-second/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [If there is a soul, what is it, and where did it come from, and where does it go? Can anyone who is guided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/if-there-is-a-soul-what-is-it-and-where-did-it-come-from-and-where/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) [Explore all 213 Clarence Darrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every one knows that the heavenly bodies move in certain paths in relation to each other with seeming consistency and regularity which we call [physical] law. ... 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