Biology Quote by James Clerk Maxwell
““A molecule of hydrogen…whether in Sirius or in Arcturus, executes its vibrations in precisely the same time. Each molecule therefore throughout the universe bears impressed upon it the stamp of a metric system as distinctly as does the metre of the Archives at Paris, or the double royal cubit of the temple of Karnac. No theory of evolution can be formed to account for the similarity of molecules, for evolution necessarily implies continuous change, and the molecule is incapable of growth or decay, of generation or destruction… We are therefore unable to ascribe either the existence of the molecules or the identity of their properties to any of the causes which we call natural.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: “On the Nature of Molecules” presented 1875, Royal Society, London
Molecules vibrate uniformly across the cosmos, suggesting a universal metric that challenges evolutionary explanations.
In simple terms: Molecules share a universal rhythm, defying simple evolution.
Key Takeaway
Consider universal constants in science.
Themes
science
philosophy
cosmology
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- astronomy
- physics research
- education
Key Concepts
uniformity
metric systems
evolutionary theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does universal order affect our view of life?
- Can scientific constants coexist with change?
A Different Perspective
Uniformity may coexist with evolution.
![“In the heavens we discover [stars] by their light, and by their light alone ... the sole evidence of the existence of these distant worlds ... that each of them is built up of molecules of the same kinds we find on earth. A molecule of hydrogen, for example, whether in Sirius or in Arcturus…” quote by James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b3/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_archives_in-the-heavens-we-discover-stars-by-thei_1928846.jpg)
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