Age Quote by James Clerk Maxwell
“Natural causes, as we know, are at work, which tend to modify, if they do not at length destroy, all the arrangements and dimensions of the earth and the whole solar system. But though in the course of ages catastrophes have occurred and may yet occur in the heavens, though ancient systems may be dissolved and new systems evolved out of their ruins, the molecules [i.e. atoms] out of which these systems are built-the foundation stones of the material universe-remain unbroken and unworn. They continue to this day as they were created-perfect in number and measure and weight.”
About This Quote
Source Book: A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, 1873
Fundamental particles stay unchanged despite cosmic upheavals, preserving the universe’s basic structure.
In simple terms: Atoms stay the same even when worlds change.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the constancy of basic building blocks.
Themes
science
cosmology
physics
continuity
Mood
awe
curiosity
reverence
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- geological timescales
- astronomical events
- scientific research
Key Concepts
atomism
cosmic cycles
material permanence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this stability influence our view of change?
- What does it mean for humanity’s place in the cosmos?
A Different Perspective
Even if atoms are stable, their interactions can produce unpredictable outcomes.
![“I do not think that this [the universe] can be explained only by natural causes, and are forced to impute to the wisdom and ingenuity of an intelligent.” quote by Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0cc/isaac-newton-1226_causes_i-do-not-think-that-this-the-universe-ca_1675478.jpg)
![“One of the chief peculiarities of this treatise is the doctrine that the true electric current, on which the electromagnetic phenomena depend, is not the same thing as the current of conduction, but that the time-variation of the electric displacement must [also] be taken into account...” quote by James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a93/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_accounts_one-of-the-chief-peculiarities-of-this-t_567321.jpg)
