--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God may not play dice with the universe…" description: "\"God may not play dice with the universe, but something strange is going on with the prime numbers.\" — Paul Erdos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/paul-erdos-18554_advocating_god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe_2750375.jpg" --- # God may not play dice with the universe, but something… ![“God may not play dice with the universe, but something strange is going on with the prime numbers.” quote by Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/paul-erdos-18554_advocating_god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe_2750375.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/paul-erdos-18554_advocating_god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe_2750375.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/paul-erdos-18554_advocating_god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe_2750375.jpg) > “God may not play dice with the universe, but something strange is going on with the prime numbers.” [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prime numbers hint at deeper, unknown patterns in the universe. **In simple terms:** Primes suggest hidden cosmic order. Key Takeaway Explore mathematical mysteries. Themes mathematics mystery universe Mood curious analytical Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - research - education - cryptography Key Concepts number theory cosmology Questions to Reflect On - What secrets could primes reveal? - How does math reflect reality? A Different Perspective Complexity may be beyond comprehension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dice/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Prime Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime-number/) [Prime numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime-numbers/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [Although the prime numbers are rigidly determined, they somehow feel like experimental data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-gowers/although-the-prime-numbers-are-rigidly-determined-they-somehow-feel/) [Timothy Gowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-gowers/) > [If all sentient beings in the universe disappeared, there would remain a sense in which mathematical objects and theorems would continue to exist even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-all-sentient-beings-in-the-universe-disappeared-there-would-remain/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [“All prime numbers are one more or less than a multiple of 6.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-parker/all-prime-numbers-are-one-more-or-less-than-a-multiple-of-6/) [Matt Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-parker/) > [“An anonymous sponsor has put up the cash via an organization called the Electronic Frontier Foundation as a bounty on prime numbers: $100,000 for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-parker/an-anonymous-sponsor-has-put-up-the-cash-via-an-organization-called/) [Matt Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-parker/) > [3 is a prime, 5 is a prime, and 7 is a prime. Why bother with non-prime numbers when the primes can do everything?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-of-ockham/3-is-a-prime-5-is-a-prime-and-7-is-a-prime-why-bother-with-non-prime/) [William of Ockham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-of-ockham/) > [The problem of distinguishing prime numbers from composite numbers and of resolving the latter into their prime factors is known to be one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-friedrich-gauss/the-problem-of-distinguishing-prime-numbers-from-composite-numbers/) [Carl Friedrich Gauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-friedrich-gauss/) > [“I've got a few ideas," (Amy) admitted. "But I don't know where we're going in the long term. I mean - have you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-ve-got-a-few-ideas-amy-admitted-but-i-don-t-know-where-we-re-going/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Nature never uses prime numbers. But mathematicians do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-drake/nature-never-uses-prime-numbers-but-mathematicians-do/) [Frank Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-drake/) > [The largest known prime number is 2^32582657-1. I am proud to say that I memorized all its digits-in binary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-pomerance/the-largest-known-prime-number-is-2-32582657-1-i-am-proud-to-say-that/) Carl Pomerance > [It never happens that, when we go home and open the refrigerator, we see all infinitely many prime numbers there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kato/it-never-happens-that-when-we-go-home-and-open-the-refrigerator-we/) [Kato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kato/) > [“I’m not sure what prime numbers have to do with anything,” I say in a gentle voice. “Prime numbers have to do with everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-buxbaum/i-m-not-sure-what-prime-numbers-have-to-do-with-anything-i-say-in-a/) [Julie Buxbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-buxbaum/) > [My work on prime gaps lead to lots of media coverage, some good, some bad, some ugly, and some merely ridiculous. For example, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goldston/my-work-on-prime-gaps-lead-to-lots-of-media-coverage-some-good-some/) Daniel Goldston > [The obvious mathematical breakthrough would be development of an easy way to factor large prime numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-obvious-mathematical-breakthrough-would-be-development-of-an-easy/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Twin primes: pairs of prime numbers that are close to each other, almost neighbors, but between them there is always an even number that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-giordano/twin-primes-pairs-of-prime-numbers-that-are-close-to-each-other/) [Paolo Giordano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-giordano/) > [I, Galileo, son of the late Vicenzo Galilei, swear that I never said that the prime numbers are useless. What I said was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-galileo-son-of-the-late-vicenzo-galilei-swear-that-i-never-said/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) ## More by Paul Erdos > [Mathematics is the surest way to immortality. If you make a big discovery in mathematics, you will be remembered after everyone else will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/mathematics-is-the-surest-way-to-immortality-if-you-make-a-big/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/a-mathematician-is-a-device-for-turning-coffee-into-theorems/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [“It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. You should also have an open mind at the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/it-is-not-enough-to-be-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-you/) [Paul Erdős](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [A Mathematician is someone who can take a cup of coffee and turn it into a theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/a-mathematician-is-someone-who-can-take-a-cup-of-coffee-and-turn-it/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [Some French socialist said that private property was theft... I say that private property is a nuisance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/some-french-socialist-said-that-private-property-was-theft-i-say-that/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [“In a way, mathematics is the only infinite human activity. It is conceivable that humanity could eventually learn everything in physics or biology. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/in-a-way-mathematics-is-the-only-infinite-human-activity-it-is/) [Paul Erdős](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [ The SF \[Supreme Fascist, i.e. God\] created us to enjoy our suffering. The sooner we die, the sooner we defy His plans. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/the-sf-supreme-fascist-i-e-god-created-us-to-enjoy-our-suffering-the/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [ “\[ When asked why are numbers beautiful ?\] It’s like asking why is Ludwig van Beethoven ’s Ninth Symphony beautiful. If you don't see… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/when-asked-why-are-numbers-beautiful-it-s-like-asking-why-is-ludwig/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [I'll tell you once, and I'll tell you again. There's always a prime between n and 2n.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/i-ll-tell-you-once-and-i-ll-tell-you-again-there-s-always-a-prime/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [When I was a child, the Earth was said to be two billion years old. Now scientists say it's four and a half billion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/when-i-was-a-child-the-earth-was-said-to-be-two-billion-years-old-now/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [“When he said someone had 'died', Erdős meant that that the person had stopped doing mathematics. When he said someone had 'left', the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/when-he-said-someone-had-died-erd-s-meant-that-that-the-person-had/) [Paul Erdős](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [It will be another million years, at least, before we understand the primes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/it-will-be-another-million-years-at-least-before-we-understand-the/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [Here I am: My brain is open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/here-i-am-my-brain-is-open/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [“Before, when I looked at a piece of blank paper my mind was filled with ideas. Now all I see is a blank piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/before-when-i-looked-at-a-piece-of-blank-paper-my-mind-was-filled/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [I hope we'll be able to solve these problems before we leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/i-hope-we-ll-be-able-to-solve-these-problems-before-we-leave/) [Paul Erdos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) [Explore all 34 Paul Erdos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) ## More Advocating quotes > [As an American I am of course fundamentally opposed to democracy and to anyone advocating or defending democracy, which in theory and practice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/as-an-american-i-am-of-course-fundamentally-opposed-to-democracy-and/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [I am not a terrorist, but neither am I a pacifist. I am simply a regular guy from the Palestinian street advocating only what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marwan-barghouti/i-am-not-a-terrorist-but-neither-am-i-a-pacifist-i-am-simply-a/) Marwan Barghouti > [I am not advocating doing nothing. I am advocating for you to energetically, actively and vigilantly monitor how you are BEING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-strong/i-am-not-advocating-doing-nothing-i-am-advocating-for-you-to/) [Brenda Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-strong/) > [We did 'Jack & Bobby' in the middle of the Kerry/Bush election. It hurt it a little bit. No matter what we did, everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/we-did-jack-bobby-in-the-middle-of-the-kerry-bush-election-it-hurt-it/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [I'd like to see more crossover between white and black music. That's something I've been advocating for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/i-d-like-to-see-more-crossover-between-white-and-black-music-that-s/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [Every company can use someone advocating loudly for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/every-company-can-use-someone-advocating-loudly-for-the-customer/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [If we were living in ancient Rome or Greece, I would be considered sickly and unattractive. The times dictate that thin is better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/if-we-were-living-in-ancient-rome-or-greece-i-would-be-considered/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Are the great spiritual teachings really advocating that we fight evil because we are on the side of light, the side of peace? Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/are-the-great-spiritual-teachings-really-advocating-that-we-fight/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I think Hamas should be challenged to consider really embracing Gandhi and Dr. Kings philosophy of advocating nonviolence as a way to achieve self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-think-hamas-should-be-challenged-to-consider-really-embracing/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Whatever I believe here and whatever you think I'm advocating, it's not because I care what happens to the Republican Party. I care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/whatever-i-believe-here-and-whatever-you-think-i-m-advocating-it-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The press has bravely and nobly eroded the public trust... What I'm advocating is the media come work for us again. Remove themselves from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-press-has-bravely-and-nobly-eroded-the-public-trust-what-i-m/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I knew about some experience on the operational part of the CIA with Latin American services and so forth having to do with torture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/i-knew-about-some-experience-on-the-operational-part-of-the-cia-with/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [If I was courting the Muslim vote, I wouldn't have put establishing the partnership ceremony at the forefront of my first term, would I?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/if-i-was-courting-the-muslim-vote-i-wouldn-t-have-put-establishing/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [Freedom is living without government coercion. So when a politician talks about freedom for this group or that, ask yourself whether he is advocating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/freedom-is-living-without-government-coercion-so-when-a-politician/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was really one of the - whose name is impossible to pronounce - who was really one of the architects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/zbigniew-brzezinski-who-was-really-one-of-the-whose-name-is/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) Browse all 194 Advocating quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God may not play dice with the universe, but something strange is going on with the prime numbers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Erdos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe-but-something-strange-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advocating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe-but-something-strange-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/paul-erdos-18554_advocating_god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe_2750375.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/paul-erdos-18554_advocating_god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe_2750375.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/paul-erdos-18554_advocating_god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe_2750375.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God may not play dice with the universe, but something strange is going on with the prime numbers.” — Paul Erdos", "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": "Paul Erdos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "God may not play dice with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe-but-something-strange-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/god-may-not-play-dice-with-the-universe-but-something-strange-is/#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 } } ] } ```