Assessment Quote by Isaac Newton
“I can measure the motion of bodies but I cannot measure human folly.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Personal correspondence, 1687
The author can quantify physical motion but acknowledges the unpredictability of human behavior, highlighting limits of scientific measurement.
In simple terms: Science can’t predict human folly.
Accept uncertainty in human actions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- economics
- politics
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we ever fully model human decisions?
- What tools help us understand irrationality?
Human actions often defy logical models.