Another Quote by Isaac Newton
“Infinites, when considered absolutely without any restriction or limitation, are neither equal nor unequal, nor have any certain proportion one to another, and therefore, the principle that all infinites are equal is a precarious one.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Philosophical Treatises, 1687
Infinites without limits cannot be compared equally; assuming they are equal is unsafe.
In simple terms: Unlimited infinites are not equal.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about equality.
Themes
mathematics
philosophy
logic
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- theoretical research
- advanced calculus
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
infinity
comparability
assumption
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we handle incomparable quantities?
- When is it safe to treat infinites as equal?
A Different Perspective
Equality of infinites may fail in practical applications.
![“Do not Bodies act upon Light at a distance, and by their action bend its Rays; and is not this action (caeteris paribus) [all else being equal] strongest at the least distance?” quote by Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/isaac-newton-1226_action_do-not-bodies-act-upon-light-at-a-distan_90238.jpg)
![“I am ashamed to tell you to how many figures I carried these calculations [of Pi], having no other business at the time” quote by Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/93f/isaac-newton-1226_ashamed_i-am-ashamed-to-tell-you-to-how-many-fig_106544.jpg)
