---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has an…"
description: "\"Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has an equal and opposite satisfaction.\" — Dorothy Parker"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/dorothy-parker-700_action_newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an_2534624.jpg"
---

#  Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has an equal and…

![“Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has an equal and opposite satisfaction.” quote by Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/dorothy-parker-700_action_newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an_2534624.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/dorothy-parker-700_action_newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an_2534624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/dorothy-parker-700_action_newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an_2534624.jpg)

> “Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has an equal and opposite satisfaction.”

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote humorously suggests that every action yields a satisfying opposite, playing on Newton's third law.

**In simple terms:** Actions have opposite satisfying outcomes.

Key Takeaway

Expect unintended consequences of actions.

Themes

humor physics philosophy

Mood

lighthearted thoughtful

Type

humorous reflective

When to use this quote

- daily decisions
- interpersonal conflicts
- creative projects
- policy making

Key Concepts

cause and effect law of action and reaction

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you experienced an unexpected opposite result?
- How do you balance expectations with reality?

A Different Perspective

The joke may oversimplify complex cause-effect relationships.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newton/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/)

## Related quotes

> [Long ago, Sir Isaac Newton gave us three laws of motion, which were the work of genius. But Sir Isaac's talents didn't extend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/long-ago-sir-isaac-newton-gave-us-three-laws-of-motion-which-were-the/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [There were a number of particularly delightful incidents. There is, for example, the physicist who introduced me to one of my favorite laws, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-roe/there-were-a-number-of-particularly-delightful-incidents-there-is-for/)

[Anne Roe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-roe/)

> [Fourth Law of Thermodynamics: If the probability of success is not almost one, then it is damn near zero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-ellis/fourth-law-of-thermodynamics-if-the-probability-of-success-is-not/)

[David R. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-ellis/)

> [Parkinson's Fourth Law: The number of people in any working group tends to increase regardless of the amount of work to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/parkinson-s-fourth-law-the-number-of-people-in-any-working-group/)

[C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/)

> [Murphy's Laws (as posted in Arizona Humor) Murphy's First Law: Nothing is as easy as it looks Murphy's Second Law: Everything takes longer than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murphys-laws/murphy-s-laws-as-posted-in-arizona-humor-murphy-s-first-law-nothing/)

Murphys Laws

> [“Whether you like it or not, every action has an equal and opposite reaction in this world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-lane/whether-you-like-it-or-not-every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite/)

[Jessie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-lane/)

> [For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. Plus a social media overreaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/for-every-action-there-s-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction-plus-a-social/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [“Love should be according to Newton's third law that states: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-boldisor/love-should-be-according-to-newton-s-third-law-that-states-for-every/)

[Stefan Boldisor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-boldisor/)

> [Every action has an equal and opposite reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-wells/for-every-action-there-is-an-equal-and-opposite-government-program/)

[Bob Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-wells/)

> [They say every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and once something is set on motion, it can't help up to build a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gossip-girl/they-say-every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction-and-once/)

[Gossip Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gossip-girl/)

> [“Every kind word or action has an equal reaction. What you put out comes back to you. Why not make it caring and joyful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/every-kind-word-or-action-has-an-equal-reaction-what-you-put-out/)

[Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/)

> [For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. You receive from the world what you give to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/for-every-action-there-is-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction-you-receive/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [For every scientific (or engineering) action, there is an equal and opposite social reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-ralph-augustine/for-every-scientific-or-engineering-action-there-is-an-equal-and/)

[Norman Ralph Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-ralph-augustine/)

> [“We do know that in physics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/we-do-know-that-in-physics-every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite/)

[Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/)

## More by Dorothy Parker

> [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Writing is the art of applying the ass to the seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/writing-is-the-art-of-applying-the-ass-to-the-seat/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Hollywood is the one place on earth where you could die of encouragement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/hollywood-is-the-one-place-on-earth-where-you-could-die-of/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [“The two most beautiful words in the English language are 'check enclosed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/the-two-most-beautiful-words-in-the-english-language-are-check/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Sometimes I think Ill give up trying, and just go completely Russian and sit on a stove and moan all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/sometimes-i-think-ill-give-up-trying-and-just-go-completely-russian/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [I was always sweet, at first. Oh, it's so easy to be sweet to people before you love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/i-was-always-sweet-at-first-oh-it-s-so-easy-to-be-sweet-to-people/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Now to me, Edith looks like something that would eat her young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/now-to-me-edith-looks-like-something-that-would-eat-her-young/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Misfortune, and recited misfortune especially, can be prolonged to the point where it ceases to excite pity and arouses only irritation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/misfortune-and-recited-misfortune-especially-can-be-prolonged-to-the/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [The sun's gone dim, and the moon's gone black. For I loved him, and he didn't love back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/the-sun-s-gone-dim-and-the-moon-s-gone-black-for-i-loved-him-and-he/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [There's a hell of a distance between wisecracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-a-hell-of-a-distance-between-wisecracking-and-wit-wit-has/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song, A medley of extemporanea; And love is a thing that can never go wrong; And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/oh-life-is-a-glorious-cycle-of-song-a-medley-of-extemporanea-and-love/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Enjoyed it! One more drink and I'd have been under the host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/enjoyed-it-one-more-drink-and-i-d-have-been-under-the-host/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [This living, this living, this living Was never a project of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/this-living-this-living-this-living-was-never-a-project-of-mine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [Flowers are heaven's masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/flowers-are-heaven-s-masterpiece/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [It costs me never a stab nor squirm / To tread by chance upon a worm. / Aha, my little dear, / I say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/it-costs-me-never-a-stab-nor-squirm-to-tread-by-chance-upon-a-worm/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

[Explore all 398 Dorothy Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

## 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": "Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has an equal and opposite satisfaction.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dorothy Parker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/dorothy-parker-700_action_newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an_2534624.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/dorothy-parker-700_action_newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an_2534624.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/dorothy-parker-700_action_newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an_2534624.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has an equal and opposite satisfaction.” — Dorothy Parker",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dorothy Parker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Newton's Fourth Law: Every action has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/newton-s-fourth-law-every-action-has-an-equal-and-opposite/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
