Atoms Quote by John Grier Hibben
“There may be a soul of the world, there may be ... a psychical side, of which we are not aware, to every atom in the universe, and the psychical side, like the moon, may show us ever but the one face, the other forever in the shadow; but, at best, this is only a conjecture, it presents no solid foundation upon which to rest a theory.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Philosophical Lecture, early 20th century
The quote suggests a possible unseen, spiritual aspect of reality that may be hidden like the moon’s far side, but acknowledges it is speculative without evidence.
In simple terms: There might be a hidden spiritual side to the universe, but it’s unproven.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of speculation; seek evidence.
Themes
philosophy
metaphysics
skepticism
Mood
curious
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- personal reflection
- spiritual inquiry
- education
- debate
Key Concepts
dualism
unknown unknowns
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would change your view?
- How do you balance wonder with skepticism?
A Different Perspective
The idea may distract from empirical inquiry if taken as fact.
![“[Decoding the human genome sequence] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science. I believe that reading our blueprints, cataloguing our own instruction book, will be judged by history as more significant than even splitting the atom or…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/francis-collins-5281_atoms_decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-th_15604.jpg)
