--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hold that space cannot be curved, for…" description: "\"I hold that space cannot be curved, for the simple reason that it can have no properties. These properties we can only speak of when dealing with matte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nikola-tesla-1383_body_i-hold-that-space-cannot-be-curved-for-t_1554861.jpg" --- # I hold that space cannot be curved, for the simple reason… ![“I hold that space cannot be curved, for the simple reason that it can have no properties. These properties we can only speak of when dealing with matter filling the space. To say that in the presence of large bodies space becomes curved is equivalent to stating that something can act upon nothing…” quote by Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nikola-tesla-1383_body_i-hold-that-space-cannot-be-curved-for-t_1554861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nikola-tesla-1383_body_i-hold-that-space-cannot-be-curved-for-t_1554861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nikola-tesla-1383_body_i-hold-that-space-cannot-be-curved-for-t_1554861.jpg) > “I hold that space cannot be curved, for the simple reason that it can have no properties. These properties we can only speak of when dealing with matter filling the space. To say that in the presence of large bodies space becomes curved is equivalent to stating that something can act upon nothing. I, for one, refuse to subscribe to such a view.” [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tesla argues space has no intrinsic properties, so it cannot be curved; curvature only makes sense when matter is present. **In simple terms:** Space cannot curve without matter. Key Takeaway Question matter when discussing gravity. Themes physics philosophy space gravity matter Mood thoughtful analytical Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - academic lecture - physics debate - educational podcast Key Concepts Einstein relativity field theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile empty space with curvature? - Can curvature be a useful model despite lacking properties? A Different Perspective The concept of curved space is central to modern physics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [I hold that space cannot be curved, for the simple reason that it can have no properties. It might as well be said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/i-hold-that-space-cannot-be-curved-for-the-simple-reason-that-it-can/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [If time and space are curved, where do all of the straight people come from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-scott/if-time-and-space-are-curved-where-do-all-of-the-straight-people-come/) [RJ Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-scott/) > [The song of the curved line is called happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-crevel/the-song-of-the-curved-line-is-called-happiness/) [Rene Crevel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-crevel/) > [“Don’t swallow a scythe if your stomach isn’t curved”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/don-t-swallow-a-scythe-if-your-stomach-isn-t-curved/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) > [All motion is curved and all curvature is spiral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/all-motion-is-curved-and-all-curvature-is-spiral/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it's curved like a road through mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/what-is-straight-a-line-can-be-straight-or-a-street-but-the-human/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Straight is the line of Duty, Curved is the line of Beauty, Follow the straight line, thou shall see. The curved line ever follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/straight-is-the-line-of-duty-curved-is-the-line-of-beauty-follow-the/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I like to paint mountain ranges that are just curved blobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/i-like-to-paint-mountain-ranges-that-are-just-curved-blobs/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [“Although designated as acting boss, D’Arco sensed he was getting “curved instructions” from Casso, who was transmitting the same information and directions he received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selwyn-raab/although-designated-as-acting-boss-d-arco-sensed-he-was-getting/) [Selwyn Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selwyn-raab/) > [For - to say a few words on technique - whereas the curved line was used predominantly for reasons of beauty, (Phidias, Michelangelo, Raphael,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-van-doesburg/for-to-say-a-few-words-on-technique-whereas-the-curved-line-was-used/) [Theo van Doesburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-van-doesburg/) > [A curve of silver hung amid the brighter specks; it looked to me like a curved dagger, pretty but deadly, as if it might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/a-curve-of-silver-hung-amid-the-brighter-specks-it-looked-to-me-like/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [So that every wand or staff of empire is forsooth curved at top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/so-that-every-wand-or-staff-of-empire-is-forsooth-curved-at-top/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The most straight seems curved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-most-straight-seems-curved/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“curved horns that sprout from his temples and sweep into twisting points around his head. Gold,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoraida-c-rdova/curved-horns-that-sprout-from-his-temples-and-sweep-into-twisting/) [Zoraida Córdova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoraida-c-rdova/) > [Straight is the line of duty; Curved is the line of beauty; Follow the straight line, thou shalt see The curved line ever follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mccall/straight-is-the-line-of-duty-curved-is-the-line-of-beauty-follow-the-2/) William McCall ## More by Nikola Tesla > [From childhood I was compelled to concentrate attention upon myself. This caused me much suffering, but to my present view, it was a blessing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/from-childhood-i-was-compelled-to-concentrate-attention-upon-myself/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [In a time not distant, it will be possible to flash any image formed in thought on a screen and render it visible at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/in-a-time-not-distant-it-will-be-possible-to-flash-any-image-formed/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Women will ignore precedent and startle civilization with their progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/women-will-ignore-precedent-and-startle-civilization-with-their/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Great moments are born great opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/great-moments-are-born-great-opportunity/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [ If he \[Thomas Edison\] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/if-he-thomas-edison-had-a-needle-to-find-in-a-haystack-he-would-not/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Man, like the universe, is a machine. 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Though seemingly affected only by its immediate surrounding, the sphere of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/every-living-being-is-an-engine-geared-to-the-wheelwork-of-the-2/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Perhaps I failed, but I did my best, These masters of mine may do the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/perhaps-i-failed-but-i-did-my-best-these-masters-of-mine-may-do-the/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Religion is simply an ideal. It is an ideal force that tends to free the human being from material bonds. I do not believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/religion-is-simply-an-ideal-it-is-an-ideal-force-that-tends-to-free/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [What we now want is closer contact and better understanding between individuals and communities all over the earth, and the elimination of egoism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/what-we-now-want-is-closer-contact-and-better-understanding-between/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [When a coil is operated with currents of very high frequency, beautiful brush effects may be produced, even if the coil be of comparatively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/when-a-coil-is-operated-with-currents-of-very-high-frequency/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Of all the frictional resistances, the one that most retards human movement is ignorance, what Buddha called 'the greatest evil in the world.' The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/of-all-the-frictional-resistances-the-one-that-most-retards-human/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [I am even grateful to Einstein and others because through their erroneous theories they lead mankind away from that dangerous path I followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/i-am-even-grateful-to-einstein-and-others-because-through-their/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) [Explore all 248 Nikola Tesla quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. 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You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. 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