Atoms Quote by Fritjof Capra
“Subatomic particles do not exist but rather show 'tendencies to exist', and atomic events do not occur with certainty at definite times and in definite ways, but rather show 'tendencies to occur'.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra, 1975
Reality at the quantum level is probabilistic, describing tendencies rather than fixed outcomes.
In simple terms: Quantum events are about probabilities, not certainties.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and focus on patterns.
Themes
physics
philosophy
uncertainty
probability
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- education
- technology development
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
quantum mechanics
wave‑particle duality
measurement problem
Questions to Reflect On
- How does embracing uncertainty change decision‑making?
- What are the practical limits of probabilistic predictions?
A Different Perspective
Probabilistic models can be misinterpreted as randomness, leading to fatalism.
![“String theory?[pause] It closed the conceptual gulp between relativity and quantum mechanics. It postulates that subatomic particles are not points, but strings, about one planck length long. The rate at which strings vibrate can generate the properties of all known particles. Huh? How did I know…” quote by Willie Garson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ac/willie-garson-55883_known_string-theory-pause-it-closed-the-concep_653676.jpg)
![“[Decoding the human genome sequence] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science. I believe that reading our blueprints, cataloguing our own instruction book, will be judged by history as more significant than even splitting the atom or…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/francis-collins-5281_atoms_decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-th_15604.jpg)
