--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The remarkable feature of physical laws…" description: "\"The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. After the laws of physics, everyth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astrophysics_the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws_533981.png" --- # The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply… ![“The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. After the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astrophysics_the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws_533981.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astrophysics_the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws_533981.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astrophysics_the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws_533981.png) > “The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. After the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.” [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical laws are universal and independent of belief; everything beyond them is subjective opinion. **In simple terms:** Laws are constant, opinions change. Key Takeaway Recognize objective facts versus personal belief. Themes science objectivity philosophy Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - education - debate - policy making - personal decision making Key Concepts empiricism relativism Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate fact from belief? - When should personal opinion guide actions? A Different Perspective Beliefs can still influence behavior despite objective facts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astrophysics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrophysics/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws of physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-of-physics/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [You choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-choose/) ## Related quotes > [“The power and beauty of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. In other words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-power-and-beauty-of-physical-laws-is-that-they-apply-everywhere-2/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“In other words, after the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-other-words-after-the-laws-of-physics-everything-else-is-opinion/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“after the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/after-the-laws-of-physics-everything-else-is-opinion/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Knowledge of physical laws can, in some cases, give you the confidence to confront surly people. A few years ago I was having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/knowledge-of-physical-laws-can-in-some-cases-give-you-the-confidence/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Around the world, varying belief systems lead to political differences that are not always resolved peacefully. The power and beauty of physical laws is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/around-the-world-varying-belief-systems-lead-to-political-differences/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“In 2002, having spent more than three years in one residence for the first time in my life, I got called for jury duty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-2002-having-spent-more-than-three-years-in-one-residence-for-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“In the beginning, there was physics. "Physics" describes how matter, energy, space, and time behave and interact with one another. The interplay of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-beginning-there-was-physics-physics-describes-how-matter/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“The good thing about the laws of physics is that they require no law enforcement agencies to maintain them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-good-thing-about-the-laws-of-physics-is-that-they-require-no-law/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Until Sir Isaac Newton wrote down the universal law of gravitation, nobody had any reason to presume that the laws of physics at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/until-sir-isaac-newton-wrote-down-the-universal-law-of-gravitation/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [There is no science in this world like physics. Nothing comes close to the precision with which physics enables you to understand the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/there-is-no-science-in-this-world-like-physics-nothing-comes-close-to/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“A new concept of god: “something not very different from the sum total of the physical laws of the universe; that is, gravitation plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/a-new-concept-of-god-something-not-very-different-from-the-sum-total/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [When I began my career as a cosmologist some twenty years ago, I was a convinced atheist. I never in my wildest dreams imagined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-j-tipler/when-i-began-my-career-as-a-cosmologist-some-twenty-years-ago-i-was-a/) [Frank J. Tipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-j-tipler/) > [The smallest thought could not exist unless the entire universe and the laws of physics were in some way encouraging it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-smallest-thought-could-not-exist-unless-the-entire-universe-and/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [The laws of physics should allow us to arrange things molecule by molecule and even atom by atom, and at some point it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-merkle/the-laws-of-physics-should-allow-us-to-arrange-things-molecule-by/) [Ralph Merkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-merkle/) > [Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the windows of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sokal/anyone-who-believes-that-the-laws-of-physics-are-mere-social/) [Alan Sokal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sokal/) ## More by Neil deGrasse Tyson > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The Pacific is the best toilet for satellites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-pacific-is-the-best-toilet-for-satellites/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If you seek only easy problems to solve, then ultimately, there'll be nothing about you to distinguish yourself from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-seek-only-easy-problems-to-solve-then-ultimately-there-ll-be/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Explore all 1,143 Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More Astrophysics quotes > [“The toxicity of medical and industrial gas to the human depends on where it is used. A gas that is regarded as safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-toxicity-of-medical-and-industrial-gas-to-the-human-depends-on/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“For reasons I have yet to understand, many people don’t like chemicals, which might explain the perennial movement to rid foods of them. Personally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/for-reasons-i-have-yet-to-understand-many-people-don-t-like-chemicals/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“The one we call Earth formed in a kind of Goldilocks zone around the Sun, where oceans remain largely in liquid form.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-one-we-call-earth-formed-in-a-kind-of-goldilocks-zone-around-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Nonetheless, they remind us that ignorance is the natural state of mind for a research scientist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/nonetheless-they-remind-us-that-ignorance-is-the-natural-state-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Some people seek meaning in life through personal gain, through personal relationship, or through personal experiences. However, it seems to me that being blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/some-people-seek-meaning-in-life-through-personal-gain-through/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [“The arrow of time obscures memory of both past and future circumstance with innumerable fallacies, the least trivial of which is perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-arrow-of-time-obscures-memory-of-both-past-and-future/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [If we restructure things to see that the hero's journey is a degree in astrophysics rather than a journey to star in a reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/if-we-restructure-things-to-see-that-the-hero-s-journey-is-a-degree/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [It turns out that the history of astrophysics is where we perfected time keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/it-turns-out-that-the-history-of-astrophysics-is-where-we-perfected/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I look up at the night sky, and I know that, yes, we are part of this Universe, we are in this Universe, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-look-up-at-the-night-sky-and-i-know-that-yes-we-are-part-of-this/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Anyone who has wrestled knows that it's the hardest thing in the world to do. Anyone who says something else is the hardest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/anyone-who-has-wrestled-knows-that-it-s-the-hardest-thing-in-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Far from disproving the existence of God, astronomers may be finding more circumstantial evidence that God exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jastrow/far-from-disproving-the-existence-of-god-astronomers-may-be-finding/) [Robert Jastrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jastrow/) > [“Industrial liquid gas containers were left open and venting gas into the indoor environment in high altitude astronomy. On reflection, I realized that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/industrial-liquid-gas-containers-were-left-open-and-venting-gas-into/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“In the beginning, there was physics. "Physics" describes how matter, energy, space, and time behave and interact with one another. The interplay of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-beginning-there-was-physics-physics-describes-how-matter/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Filling out the entire electromagnetic spectrum, in order of low-energy and low-frequency to high-energy and high-frequency, we have: radio waves, micro waves, ROYGBIV, ultra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/filling-out-the-entire-electromagnetic-spectrum-in-order-of-low/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Very high altitude astronomy only works by ignoring established biological science”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/very-high-altitude-astronomy-only-works-by-ignoring-established/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Browse all 114 Astrophysics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrophysics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. After the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil deGrasse Tyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws-is-that-they-apply-everywhere/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Astrophysics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws-is-that-they-apply-everywhere/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astrophysics_the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws_533981.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astrophysics_the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws_533981.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_astrophysics_the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws_533981.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe…” — Neil deGrasse Tyson", "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": "Neil deGrasse Tyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The remarkable feature of physical laws...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws-is-that-they-apply-everywhere/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-remarkable-feature-of-physical-laws-is-that-they-apply-everywhere/#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 } } ] } ```