--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Newton's theory is not 'not right', it…" description: "\"Newton's theory is not 'not right', it just does not cover all distances. Contrary to popular belief, theories in science are not proven wrong, they ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/nathan-seiberg-50069_belief_newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just_1443622.png" --- # Newton's theory is not 'not right', it just does not cover… ![“Newton's theory is not 'not right', it just does not cover all distances. Contrary to popular belief, theories in science are not proven wrong, they are just replaced by more complete and convenient theories. To sound provocative, even the geocentric theory was never "proven" wrong, it is just not…” quote by Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/nathan-seiberg-50069_belief_newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just_1443622.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/nathan-seiberg-50069_belief_newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just_1443622.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/nathan-seiberg-50069_belief_newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just_1443622.png) > “Newton's theory is not 'not right', it just does not cover all distances. Contrary to popular belief, theories in science are not proven wrong, they are just replaced by more complete and convenient theories. To sound provocative, even the geocentric theory was never "proven" wrong, it is just not as convenient as the heliocentric theory, since it requires endless epicycles.” [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific theories are provisional; they work within limits and are superseded by broader models. **In simple terms:** Theories work only in certain ranges and get replaced by better ones. Key Takeaway Accept that knowledge evolves and stay open to new frameworks. Themes science philosophy progress humility Mood curious reflective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - research planning - education - public communication - policy making Key Concepts theory revision epistemology model building Questions to Reflect On - What limits does your current model have? - How can you test its boundaries? A Different Perspective New data may reveal gaps that current theories cannot address. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Contrary to popular belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary-to-popular-belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newton/) [Provocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provocative/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) ## Related quotes > [“We know that the difference between a heliocentric theory and a geocentric theory is one of relative motion only, and that such a difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hoyle/we-know-that-the-difference-between-a-heliocentric-theory-and-a/) [Fred Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hoyle/) > [“It is only rather recently that science has begun to make peace with its magical roots. Until a few decades ago, it was common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-ball/it-is-only-rather-recently-that-science-has-begun-to-make-peace-with/) [Philip Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-ball/) > [Our minds are specifically adapted to developing certain theories, and we have a science if the theories that are available to our minds happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/our-minds-are-specifically-adapted-to-developing-certain-theories-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [But some of these theories are so bold that they can clash with reality: they are the testable theories of science. And when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/but-some-of-these-theories-are-so-bold-that-they-can-clash-with/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [A priori one should expect a chaotic world which cannot be grasped by the mind in any way... The kind of order created by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-priori-one-should-expect-a-chaotic-world-which-cannot-be-grasped-by/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“When an important change takes place in science, in which a new theory takes the stagw, the incoming theory is generally an extension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/when-an-important-change-takes-place-in-science-in-which-a-new-theory/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [The test of science is not whether you are reasonable—there would not be much of physics if that was the case—the test is whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-bondi/the-test-of-science-is-not-whether-you-are-reasonable-there-would-not/) [Hermann Bondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-bondi/) > [I am a figure skater, which helps me appreciate Newton's theory of mechanics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-am-a-figure-skater-which-helps-me-appreciate-newton-s-theory-of/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [I firmly believe the world will sort itself out in the end. Believe it with me. At least none of us will be around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-wilde/i-firmly-believe-the-world-will-sort-itself-out-in-the-end-believe-it/) [Stuart Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-wilde/) > [As more and more citizens express what they think, and defend it in writing, that will change the way people understand public issues. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/as-more-and-more-citizens-express-what-they-think-and-defend-it-in/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [“People hate to be proven wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/people-hate-to-be-proven-wrong/) De philosopher DJ Kyos > [Good science is all about following the data as it shows up and letting yourself be proven wrong, and letting everything change while you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-skloot/good-science-is-all-about-following-the-data-as-it-shows-up-and/) [Rebecca Skloot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-skloot/) > [“Every day I’m convinced that I can’t possibly love you more… and every day I’m proven wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/every-day-i-m-convinced-that-i-can-t-possibly-love-you-more-and-every/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [We'll fund a project even if I'm skeptical because I'd rather be proven wrong by somebody on the inside than by somebody on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/we-ll-fund-a-project-even-if-i-m-skeptical-because-i-d-rather-be/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [“It was just a rat. And she had no interest—none—in being proven wrong right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/it-was-just-a-rat-and-she-had-no-interest-none-in-being-proven-wrong/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More by Nathan Seiberg > [What will the greatest experiment discover? I have no idea!, maybe nothing!, If we won't check, we will never know. In science there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/what-will-the-greatest-experiment-discover-i-have-no-idea-maybe/) [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) > [We do not know how to formulate string theory nor do we know its underlying principles. Surprisingly, this fact does not stop us from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/we-do-not-know-how-to-formulate-string-theory-nor-do-we-know-its/) [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) > [The standard model gives us an accuracy of ten decimal digits, this is an amazing success that has never been achieved before in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/the-standard-model-gives-us-an-accuracy-of-ten-decimal-digits-this-is/) [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) > [I am almost certain that space and time are illusions. These are primitive notions that will be replaced by something more sophisticated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/i-am-almost-certain-that-space-and-time-are-illusions-these-are/) [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) > [Two lines must meet at a point. Therefore there are only two surprises here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/two-lines-must-meet-at-a-point-therefore-there-are-only-two-surprises/) [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) > [This is a rather unusual situation in physics. We perform approximate calculations which are valid only in some regime and this gives us the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/this-is-a-rather-unusual-situation-in-physics-we-perform-approximate/) [Nathan Seiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) [Explore all 7 Nathan Seiberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Newton's theory is not 'not right', it just does not cover all distances. Contrary to popular belief, theories in science are not proven wrong, they are just replaced by more complete and convenient theories. To sound provocative, even the geocentric theory was never \"proven\" wrong, it is just not as convenient as the heliocentric theory, since it requires endless epicycles.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathan Seiberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just-does-not-cover-all-distances/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just-does-not-cover-all-distances/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/nathan-seiberg-50069_belief_newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just_1443622.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/nathan-seiberg-50069_belief_newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just_1443622.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74c/nathan-seiberg-50069_belief_newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just_1443622.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Newton's theory is not 'not right', it just does not cover all distances. Contrary to popular belief…” — Nathan Seiberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nathan Seiberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-seiberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Newton's theory is not 'not right',...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just-does-not-cover-all-distances/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-seiberg/newton-s-theory-is-not-not-right-it-just-does-not-cover-all-distances/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```