--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every damn thing in the universe can be…" description: "\"“Every damn thing in the universe can be broken down into smaller things, even atoms, even protons, so theoretically speaking, I guess you had a winnin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/jeannette-walls-1378_physics_every-damn-thing-in-the-universe-can-be_400703.jpg" --- # Every damn thing in the universe can be broken down into… ![“Every damn thing in the universe can be broken down into smaller things, even atoms, even protons, so theoretically speaking, I guess you had a winning case. A collection of things should be considered one thing. Unfortunately, theory don’t always carry the day.” quote by Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/jeannette-walls-1378_physics_every-damn-thing-in-the-universe-can-be_400703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/jeannette-walls-1378_physics_every-damn-thing-in-the-universe-can-be_400703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a66/jeannette-walls-1378_physics_every-damn-thing-in-the-universe-can-be_400703.jpg) > ““Every damn thing in the universe can be broken down into smaller things, even atoms, even protons, so theoretically speaking, I guess you had a winning case. A collection of things should be considered one thing. Unfortunately, theory don’t always carry the day.”” [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex systems can be broken into parts, but real-world outcomes often defy simple theory. **In simple terms:** Theory simplifies, reality complicates. Key Takeaway Test ideas in practice. Themes complexity theory reality Mood analytical cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - engineering projects - scientific research - policy making - business strategy Key Concepts systems thinking philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When did theory fail you? - How do you adapt when predictions miss? A Different Perspective Theories may overlook emergent properties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [The Kabbalists say that the holy one of the universe is broken, and that we are extensions of the holy one and carry that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-pidgeon/the-kabbalists-say-that-the-holy-one-of-the-universe-is-broken-and/) [Rebecca Pidgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-pidgeon/) > [“The laws of the universe are never broken. Your mistake is to think that the little regularities we have observed on one planet for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-laws-of-the-universe-are-never-broken-your-mistake-is-to-think/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“We’re not the greatest thing in the universe, certainly not the smartest. 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Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [All things are made of atoms-little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/all-things-are-made-of-atoms-little-particles-that-move-around-in/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING N THE UNIVERSE IS LIGTH”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-santi/the-most-important-thing-n-the-universe-is-ligth/) [DAVE SANTI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-santi/) > [I've always thought of faith as an acknowledgment of not being the biggest thing in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dwane/i-ve-always-thought-of-faith-as-an-acknowledgment-of-not-being-the/) [Ted Dwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dwane/) > [When you tug at a single thing in the universe, you'll find its attached to everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-you-tug-at-a-single-thing-in-the-universe-you-ll-find-its/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The cool thing about the universe is that it can format itself into tiny little manifestations that are not entirely aware of all aspects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-cool-thing-about-the-universe-is-that-it-can-format-itself-into/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“This is the greatest damn thing about the universe. That we can know so much, recognize so much, dissect, do everything, and we can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/this-is-the-greatest-damn-thing-about-the-universe-that-we-can-know/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [You know you're putting a good thing out into the universe when you put on glitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/you-know-you-re-putting-a-good-thing-out-into-the-universe-when-you/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [“The best thing the universe ever gave us is that we'll all be forgotten”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-sutherland/the-best-thing-the-universe-ever-gave-us-is-that-we-ll-all-be/) [Krystal Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-sutherland/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“The universe is not punishing you or blessing you. The universe is simply responding to the vibrational attitude that you are emitting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-hicks/the-universe-is-not-punishing-you-or-blessing-you-the-universe-is/) [Abraham Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-hicks/) ## More by Jeannette Walls > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“You should never hate anyone, not even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You had to find the redeeming quality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-not-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [With a complicated childhood, you can either focus on the positive or the negative, and I chose to focus on the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/with-a-complicated-childhood-you-can-either-focus-on-the-positive-or/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [She never felt sorry for herself, and that was something I decided I admired most in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/she-never-felt-sorry-for-herself-and-that-was-something-i-decided-i/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“If you want to live in the farmland, haul your sorry hide off to Pennsylvania.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/if-you-want-to-live-in-the-farmland-haul-your-sorry-hide-off-to/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“I WAS SITTING IN a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening, when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-was-sitting-in-a-taxi-wondering-if-i-had-overdressed-for-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I had the big shoulders; I had the big hair. I loved the '80s. It was all about power women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-had-the-big-shoulders-i-had-the-big-hair-i-loved-the-80s-it-was-all/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Things usually work out in the end." "What if they don't?" "That just means you haven't come to the end yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/things-usually-work-out-in-the-end-what-if-they-don-t-that-just-means/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“That was the way man was meant to live, he’d say, in harmony with the wild, like the Indians, not this lords-of-the-earth crap, trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/that-was-the-way-man-was-meant-to-live-he-d-say-in-harmony-with-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/sometimes-you-need-a-little-crisis-to-get-your-adrenaline-flowing-and/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Don’t be afraid of your dark places,” Mom told her. “If you can shine a light on them, you’ll find treasure there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/don-t-be-afraid-of-your-dark-places-mom-told-her-if-you-can-shine-a/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I hate Erma," I told Mom... "You have to show compassion for her..." She added that you should never hate anyone, even your worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-hate-erma-i-told-mom-you-have-to-show-compassion-for-her-she-added/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Sad state to spend your life in. Being afraid of your own self." Rex Walls”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/sad-state-to-spend-your-life-in-being-afraid-of-your-own-self-rex/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [I was so worried that people wouldn't like me or my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/i-was-so-worried-that-people-wouldn-t-like-me-or-my-story/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“the surest way to feel rich was to invest in quality nonessentials.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/the-surest-way-to-feel-rich-was-to-invest-in-quality-nonessentials/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) [Explore all 247 Jeannette Walls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## More Physics quotes > [“The universe is not punishing you or blessing you. The universe is simply responding to the vibrational attitude that you are emitting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-hicks/the-universe-is-not-punishing-you-or-blessing-you-the-universe-is/) [Abraham Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-hicks/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“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 > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [. . . to know the order of nature, and regard the universe as orderly is the highest function of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/to-know-the-order-of-nature-and-regard-the-universe-as-orderly-is-the/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“the new theory of matter has entirely over thrown the old conception of the unchanging atoms, and they are now regarded to be composed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-new-theory-of-matter-has-entirely-over-thrown-the-old-conception/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [In this other dimension I feel tension surrounding my every move. You and I are together at last. We are captive in our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-elektricity/in-this-other-dimension-i-feel-tension-surrounding-my-every-move-you/) [London Elektricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-elektricity/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. 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