Atoms Quote by Lucretius
“Anything made out of destructible matter Infinite time would have devoured before. But if the atoms that make and replenish the world Have endured through the immense span of the past Their natures are immortal-that is clear. Never can things revert to nothingness!”
About This Quote
Source Poem: De Rerum Natura, Book I, c. 50 BC
Matter that can be destroyed is eventually consumed by time, but the atoms that compose and renew the world persist eternally, making true nothingness impossible.
In simple terms: Physical things decay, but basic particles last forever.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the enduring nature of fundamental elements.
Themes
philosophy
science
eternity
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- environmental cycles
- material decay
- long‑term planning
- existential reflection
Key Concepts
atomism
impermanence
cosmology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does permanence mean for human purpose?
- How does this view affect our relationship with nature?
A Different Perspective
Even if atoms endure, consciousness and meaning may still fade.
![“... deprived of pain, and also deprived of danger, able to do what it wants, [Nature] does not need us, nor understands our deserts, and it cannot be angry.” quote by Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/45d/lucretius-1632_able_deprived-of-pain-and-also-deprived-of-da_83651.jpg)
![“[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)
