Symmetry Quote by Lee Smolin
““A common example from physics is of a pencil balanced on its point. It is symmetric, in that while it is balanced on its point, one direction is as good as another. But it is unstable. When the pencil falls, as it inevitably must, it will fall randomly, in one direction or another, breaking the symmetry. Once it has fallen, it is stable, but it no longer manifests the symmetry- although the symmetry is still there in the underlying laws. The laws describe only the space of what possibly may happen, the actual world governed by those laws involves a choice of one realization from many possibilities.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Physics and Philosophy, 2015
Physical systems can be symmetric yet unstable; when they choose a state, symmetry breaks and a specific outcome emerges.
In simple terms: Symmetry can hide many possible outcomes, but only one occurs.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that choices collapse possibilities.
Themes
physics
philosophy
uncertainty
symmetry
determinism
Mood
curious
analytical
thoughtful
Type
explanatory
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scientific modeling
- decision making
- risk assessment
- creative problem solving
Key Concepts
symmetry breaking
probability
law vs. realization
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when to act amid many possibilities?
- What role does uncertainty play in your field?
A Different Perspective
Symmetry may persist in laws even after a specific outcome is realized.
![“The Big Bang has gone away, but as far as Super String, that is suspicious for me. It all starts out with the notion of Big Bang, which if it were true, starts out with incredibly high temperatures. So they think [we] need to get these high temperatures for this broken symmetry; all this broken…” quote by Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/182/edgar-mitchell-6104_bangs_the-big-bang-has-gone-away-but-as-far-as_132330.jpg)
