Physics Quote by Marguerite Yourcenar
““Those sages of the ancient world, unbound by dogma of any kind, thought as we do in terms of physics, or rather, physiology, as applied to the whole universe: they envisaged the end of man and the dying out of this sphere.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Memoirs of Hadrian, Marguerite Yourcenar, 1951
Ancient thinkers saw the cosmos through natural laws, not dogma, predicting humanity’s eventual decline.
In simple terms: Ancient philosophers used science, not religion, to explain the universe and humanity’s fate.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of human existence.
Themes
philosophy
science
mortality
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- environmental policy
- long‑term planning
- existential reflection
Key Concepts
naturalism
cosmology
human destiny
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing humanity as temporary affect our choices?
- What can modern science learn from ancient natural philosophy?
A Different Perspective
Limits of predicting future are uncertain.
![“Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine is too complicated for all the elements to be able to enter into the analytical comparison we wish to make, we separate the more inconvenient [elements], we…” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_able_geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics_6945.jpg)
