--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is conceivable that animal life might…" description: "\"It is conceivable that animal life might have the attribute of using the heat of surrounding matter, at its natural temperature, as a source of energy ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/lord-kelvin-10819_animal_it-is-conceivable-that-animal-life-might_2013321.jpg" --- # It is conceivable that animal life might have the… ![“It is conceivable that animal life might have the attribute of using the heat of surrounding matter, at its natural temperature, as a source of energy for mechanical effect . . . .The influence of animal or vegetable life on matter is infinitely beyond the range of any scientific enquiry hitherto…” quote by Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/lord-kelvin-10819_animal_it-is-conceivable-that-animal-life-might_2013321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/lord-kelvin-10819_animal_it-is-conceivable-that-animal-life-might_2013321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/lord-kelvin-10819_animal_it-is-conceivable-that-animal-life-might_2013321.jpg) > “It is conceivable that animal life might have the attribute of using the heat of surrounding matter, at its natural temperature, as a source of energy for mechanical effect . . . .The influence of animal or vegetable life on matter is infinitely beyond the range of any scientific enquiry hitherto entered on. Its power of directing the motions of moving particles, in the demonstrated daily miracle of our human free-will, and in the growth of generation after generation of plants from a single seed, are infinitely different from any possible result of the fortuitous concurrence of atoms.” [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life appears to harness ambient thermal energy in ways beyond current scientific explanation, suggesting a mysterious agency in biological processes. **In simple terms:** Life may use surrounding heat beyond known science. Key Takeaway Explore unknown mechanisms of biological energy. Themes science biology energy mystery Mood inquisitive speculative Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - research design - experimental biology - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts thermodynamics free will emergence Questions to Reflect On - What experiments could test ambient energy use in organisms? - How does this view affect our understanding of free will? A Different Perspective Speculative; may lack empirical support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-life/) [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Concurrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concurrence/) [Daily miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-miracles/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Fortuitous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortuitous/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Heat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heat/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Particles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particles/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) ## Related quotes > [Everything except God has some natural superior; everything except unformed matter has some natural inferior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/everything-except-god-has-some-natural-superior-everything-except/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“I was a vegetarian of sorts," he replied, "but the difference between animal and vegetable isn't as clearly defined on my home world as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-snyder/i-was-a-vegetarian-of-sorts-he-replied-but-the-difference-between/) [Lucy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-snyder/) > [To grow up in intimate association with nature - animal and vegetable - is an irreplaceable form of wealth and culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-franklin/to-grow-up-in-intimate-association-with-nature-animal-and-vegetable/) [Miles Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-franklin/) > [“We have may teachers, animal, vegetable and mineral”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-videle/we-have-may-teachers-animal-vegetable-and-mineral/) Jimmy Videle > [“Appreciate the daily miracles of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/appreciate-the-daily-miracles-of-life/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/keep-your-heart-in-wonder-at-the-daily-miracles-of-your-life/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [More than print and ink, a newspaper is a collection of fierce individualists who somehow manage to perform the astounding daily miracle of merging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ochs-sulzberger/more-than-print-and-ink-a-newspaper-is-a-collection-of-fierce/) [Arthur Ochs Sulzberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ochs-sulzberger/) > [There's no word for what Young does, only for what he accomplishes-the capturing of small, daily miracles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorianne-laux/there-s-no-word-for-what-young-does-only-for-what-he-accomplishes-the/) [Dorianne Laux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorianne-laux/) > [The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-great-revelation-perhaps-never-did-come-instead-there-were-little/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding... And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Time is the inexplicable raw material of everything. With it, all is possible, without it nothing. The supply of time is truly a daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/time-is-the-inexplicable-raw-material-of-everything-with-it-all-is/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [“And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/and-could-you-keep-your-heart-in-wonder-at-the-daily-miracles-of-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [It's a daily miracle to see a child grow and develop all the senses and language and speech and faculties, and they're so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jann-wenner/it-s-a-daily-miracle-to-see-a-child-grow-and-develop-all-the-senses/) [Jann Wenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jann-wenner/) > [Every day is a renewal, every morning the daily miracle. This joy you feel is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/every-day-is-a-renewal-every-morning-the-daily-miracle-this-joy-you/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part, Without the sweet concurrence of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/in-prayer-the-lips-ne-er-act-the-winning-part-without-the-sweet/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) ## More by Lord Kelvin > [Christianity without the cross is nothing. The cross was the fitting close of a life of rejection, scorn and defeat. But in no true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/christianity-without-the-cross-is-nothing-the-cross-was-the-fitting/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [If you study science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/if-you-study-science-deep-enough-and-long-enough-it-will-force-you-to/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [When you are face to face with a difficulty, you are up against a discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/when-you-are-face-to-face-with-a-difficulty-you-are-up-against-a/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/if-you-can-not-measure-it-you-can-not-improve-it/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/i-often-say-that-when-you-can-measure-what-you-are-speaking-about-and/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [If you cannot measure it, then it is not science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/if-you-cannot-measure-it-then-it-is-not-science/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Simplification of modes of proof is not merely an indication of advance in our knowledge of a subject, but is also the surest guarantee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/simplification-of-modes-of-proof-is-not-merely-an-indication-of/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Quaternions came from Hamilton after his really good work had been done, and though beautifully ingenious, have been an unmixed evil to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/quaternions-came-from-hamilton-after-his-really-good-work-had-been/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Do not imagine that mathematics is hard and crabbed, and repulsive to common sense. It is merely the etherealization of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/do-not-imagine-that-mathematics-is-hard-and-crabbed-and-repulsive-to/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Let nobody be afraid of true freedom of thought. Let us be free in thought and criticism; but, with freedom, we are bound to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/let-nobody-be-afraid-of-true-freedom-of-thought-let-us-be-free-in/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Symmetrical equations are good in their place, but ' vector ' is a useless survival, or offshoot from quaternions, and has never been of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/symmetrical-equations-are-good-in-their-place-but-vector-is-a-useless/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Mathematics is the only good metaphysics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/mathematics-is-the-only-good-metaphysics/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [You know only insofar as you can measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/you-know-only-insofar-as-you-can-measure/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [Fourier is a mathematical poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/fourier-is-a-mathematical-poem/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) > [When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-kelvin/when-you-can-measure-what-you-are-speaking-about-and-express-it-in/) [Lord Kelvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) [Explore all 63 Lord Kelvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-kelvin/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is conceivable that animal life might have the attribute of using the heat of surrounding matter, at its natural temperature, as a source of energy for mechanical effect . . . .The influence of animal or vegetable life on matter is infinitely beyond the range of any scientific enquiry hitherto entered on. 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