Causes Quote by Pierre-Simon Laplace
“The simplicity of nature is not to be measured by that of our conceptions. Infinitely varied in its effects, nature is simple only in its causes, and its economy consists in producing a great number of phenomena, often very complicated, by means of a small number of general laws.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Traité de mécanique céleste, 1799
Nature's complexity arises from simple underlying laws that generate many phenomena.
In simple terms: Simple causes produce complex effects.
Key Takeaway
Seek underlying principles.
Themes
science
philosophy
complexity
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- policy making
- environmental planning
Key Concepts
causality
economy of law
emergence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we identify fundamental laws in messy data?
- What limits arise when simplifying reality?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems can be unpredictable despite simple rules.
![“Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from ear to ear. So I don’t want to mess up, [be]cause she’s smiling. Seeing my mom happy is kind of like an overwhelming feeling.” quote by Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/477/chris-brown-1887_causes_well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-w_4699.jpg)