--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gravity explains the motions of the…" description: "\"“Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion.”\" — Isaac Newton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/isaac-newton-1226_gravity_gravity-explains-the-motions-of-the-plan_2342352.jpg" --- # Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot… ![“Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion.” quote by Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/isaac-newton-1226_gravity_gravity-explains-the-motions-of-the-plan_2342352.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/isaac-newton-1226_gravity_gravity-explains-the-motions-of-the-plan_2342352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/isaac-newton-1226_gravity_gravity-explains-the-motions-of-the-plan_2342352.jpg) > ““Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion.”” [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gravity describes planetary motion but does not address the ultimate cause of motion. **In simple terms:** Gravity explains motion, not its origin. Key Takeaway Consider deeper causes beyond observable laws. Themes cosmology philosophy science causality Mood inquisitive reflective Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - astronomy research - philosophical debate - education - theology Key Concepts Newtonian physics metaphysics first cause Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile scientific description with existential queries? A Different Perspective Does physics need a metaphysical explanation for motion? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Gravity Explains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity-explains-3570785/) [Motions Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motions-planets-1728673/) [Planets Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets-explain-3570784/) [Planets Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets-motion-3019068/) ## Related quotes > [Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/gravity-explains-the-motions-of-the-planets-but-it-cannot-explain-who/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Gravity may put the planets into motion, but without the divine Power, it could never put them into such a circulating motion as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/gravity-may-put-the-planets-into-motion-but-without-the-divine-power/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Against filling the Heavens with fluid Mediums, unless they be exceeding rare, a great Objection arises from the regular and very lasting Motions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/against-filling-the-heavens-with-fluid-mediums-unless-they-be/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [The motions of the comets are exceedingly regular, and they observe the same laws as the motions of the planets, but they differ from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-motions-of-the-comets-are-exceedingly-regular-and-they-observe/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [The motions which the planets now have could not spring from any natural cause alone, but were impressed by an intelligent Agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-motions-which-the-planets-now-have-could-not-spring-from-any/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [“a prerequisite for the creation of the intellectual edifice upon which your spreadsheets, air-conditioned offices and mobile phones rest was the curiosity-driven quest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/a-prerequisite-for-the-creation-of-the-intellectual-edifice-upon/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I have explained the phenomena of the heavens and of our sea by the force of gravity, but I have not yet assigned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-have-explained-the-phenomena-of-the-heavens-and-of-our-sea-by-the/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Our design, not respecting arts, but philosophy, and our subject, not manual, but natural powers, we consider chiefly those things which relate to gravity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/our-design-not-respecting-arts-but-philosophy-and-our-subject-not/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [The moon gravitates towards the earth and by the force of gravity is continually drawn off from a rectilinear motion and retained in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-moon-gravitates-towards-the-earth-and-by-the-force-of-gravity-is/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [You sometimes speak of gravity as essential and inherent to matter. Pray do not ascribe that notion to me, for the cause of gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/you-sometimes-speak-of-gravity-as-essential-and-inherent-to-matter/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The generalized theory of relativity has furnished still more remarkable results. This considers not only uniform but also accelerated motion. In particular, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-michelson/the-generalized-theory-of-relativity-has-furnished-still-more/) [A.A. Michelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-michelson/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) ## More by Isaac Newton > [The same law takes place in a system, consisting of many bodies, as in one single body, with regard to their persevering in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-same-law-takes-place-in-a-system-consisting-of-many-bodies-as-in/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I have been much amused at ye singular phenomena resulting from bringing of a needle into contact with a piece of amber or resin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-have-been-much-amused-at-ye-singular-phenomena-resulting-from/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/no-great-discovery-was-ever-made-without-a-bold-guess/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-keep-the-subject-of-my-inquiry-constantly-before-me-and-wait-till/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Philosophy is such an impertinently litigious lady that a man had as good be engaged in lawsuits as have to do with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/philosophy-is-such-an-impertinently-litigious-lady-that-a-man-had-as/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Do not Bodies act upon Light at a distance, and by their action bend its Rays; and is not this action (caeteris paribus) \[all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/do-not-bodies-act-upon-light-at-a-distance-and-by-their-action-bend/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [God in the beginning formed matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable, movable particles, of such sizes and figures, and with such other properties, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/god-in-the-beginning-formed-matter-in-solid-massy-hard-impenetrable/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [ I am ashamed to tell you to how many figures I carried these calculations \[of Pi\], having no other business at the time ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-am-ashamed-to-tell-you-to-how-many-figures-i-carried-these/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Hypotheses non fingo. I frame no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/hypotheses-non-fingo-i-frame-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [The Ignis Fatuus is a vapor shining without heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-ignis-fatuus-is-a-vapor-shining-without-heat/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Blind metaphysical necessity, which is certainly the same always and every where, could produce no variety of things. All that diversity of natural things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/blind-metaphysical-necessity-which-is-certainly-the-same-always-and/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [You sometimes speak of gravity as essential and inherent to matter. Pray do not ascribe that notion to me, for the cause of gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/you-sometimes-speak-of-gravity-as-essential-and-inherent-to-matter/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/there-are-more-sure-marks-of-authenticity-in-the-bible-than-in-any/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Therefore to the same natural effects we must, as far as possible, assign the same causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/therefore-to-the-same-natural-effects-we-must-as-far-as-possible/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [In scripture we are told of some trusting in God and others trusting in idols, and that God is our refuge, our strength, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/in-scripture-we-are-told-of-some-trusting-in-god-and-others-trusting/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) [Explore all 266 Isaac Newton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) ## More Gravity quotes > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [“The generalized theory of relativity has furnished still more remarkable results. This considers not only uniform but also accelerated motion. In particular, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-michelson/the-generalized-theory-of-relativity-has-furnished-still-more/) [A.A. Michelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-michelson/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I'm a fan of supersymmetry, largely because it seems to be the only route by which gravity can be brought into the scheme. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/i-m-a-fan-of-supersymmetry-largely-because-it-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/) > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [Gravity Falls' didn't just appear overnight - every spooky cave and moss covered tree was created by a team of brilliant artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/gravity-falls-didn-t-just-appear-overnight-every-spooky-cave-and-moss/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [“You'll have to give me a minute here. Gravity's a real bitch this morning. Ian to Kori”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-ll-have-to-give-me-a-minute-here-gravity-s-a-real-bitch-this/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [So, I'm not the only one who believes that there is such a thing as "the law of gravity," and if it's a law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/so-i-m-not-the-only-one-who-believes-that-there-is-such-a-thing-as/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“Everything we feel and do is somehow oriented "lifeward," and the least deviation away from this direction toward something beyond is difficult or alarming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/everything-we-feel-and-do-is-somehow-oriented-lifeward-and-the-least/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [Well, my intention is to make work about being uncomfortable. 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