--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every phenomenon, however trifling it be…" description: "\"Every phenomenon, however trifling it be, has a cause, and a mind infinitely powerful, and infinitely well-informed concerning the laws of nature could..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/henri-poincare-3339_age_every-phenomenon-however-trifling-it-be_980204.jpg" --- # Every phenomenon, however trifling it be, has a cause, and… ![“Every phenomenon, however trifling it be, has a cause, and a mind infinitely powerful, and infinitely well-informed concerning the laws of nature could have foreseen it from the beginning of the ages. If a being with such a mind existed, we could play no game of chance with him; we should always…” quote by Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/henri-poincare-3339_age_every-phenomenon-however-trifling-it-be_980204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/henri-poincare-3339_age_every-phenomenon-however-trifling-it-be_980204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/henri-poincare-3339_age_every-phenomenon-however-trifling-it-be_980204.jpg) > “Every phenomenon, however trifling it be, has a cause, and a mind infinitely powerful, and infinitely well-informed concerning the laws of nature could have foreseen it from the beginning of the ages. If a being with such a mind existed, we could play no game of chance with him; we should always lose.” [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All events, no matter how minor, have causes; a perfectly knowledgeable mind would predict them, making chance impossible. **In simple terms:** Everything has a cause; a fully informed mind would see all outcomes. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of predictability. Themes determinism knowledge chance Mood contemplative analytical Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - scientific research - philosophical debate - risk assessment - strategic planning Key Concepts causality infinite knowledge Questions to Reflect On - Can we ever truly know all causes? - How does this view affect our sense of free will? A Different Perspective Assumes existence of an omniscient being, which is speculative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws of nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-of-nature/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Phenomenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenon/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [“The yogis figured a calm mind was infinitely more powerful than a restless mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/om-swami/the-yogis-figured-a-calm-mind-was-infinitely-more-powerful-than-a/) [Om Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/om-swami/) > [Mind is infinitely creative. 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It must provide an instrument for the study of nature. 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