--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have been forced to admit for the…" description: "\"We have been forced to admit for the first time in history not only the possibility of the fact of the growth and decay of the elements of matter. With..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_certain_we-have-been-forced-to-admit-for-the-fir_1196785.jpg" --- # We have been forced to admit for the first time in history… ![“We have been forced to admit for the first time in history not only the possibility of the fact of the growth and decay of the elements of matter. With radium and with uranium we do not see anything but the decay. And yet, somewhere, somehow, it is almost certain that these elements must be…” quote by Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_certain_we-have-been-forced-to-admit-for-the-fir_1196785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_certain_we-have-been-forced-to-admit-for-the-fir_1196785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e6/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_certain_we-have-been-forced-to-admit-for-the-fir_1196785.jpg) > “We have been forced to admit for the first time in history not only the possibility of the fact of the growth and decay of the elements of matter. With radium and with uranium we do not see anything but the decay. And yet, somewhere, somehow, it is almost certain that these elements must be continuously forming. They are probably being put together now in the laboratory of the stars. ... Can we ever learn to control the process. Why not? Only research can tell.” [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the paradox of observing both decay and formation of elements, suggesting that stars continuously create matter despite observable decay. **In simple terms:** Stars create matter even as it decays. Key Takeaway Explore how scientific inquiry can uncover hidden processes. Themes science paradox cosmology research discovery Mood wonderful inquisitive hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - laboratory research - astronomy education - fundamental physics - public outreach Key Concepts nuclear physics stellar nucleosynthesis entropy Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about the limits of human understanding? - How can we balance curiosity with humility in scientific research? A Different Perspective The quote assumes current knowledge fully explains stellar processes, which remains incomplete. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-elements-443884/) [Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/) [Decay Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay-elements-3572388/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Elements Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements-matter-3572389/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Laboratory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laboratory/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter Radium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-radium-3572387/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Uranium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uranium/) [Uranium Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uranium-decay-3572390/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) ## Related quotes > [It is not possible to foretell the reaction of certain elements in the Army and Navy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshijiro-umezu/it-is-not-possible-to-foretell-the-reaction-of-certain-elements-in/) [Yoshijiro Umezu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshijiro-umezu/) > [You can't make jazz without using certain elements of Latin music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jelly-roll-morton/you-can-t-make-jazz-without-using-certain-elements-of-latin-music/) [Jelly Roll Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jelly-roll-morton/) > [Certain elements may try to stretch this beyond what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-ziegler/certain-elements-may-try-to-stretch-this-beyond-what-it-is/) [Ron Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-ziegler/) > [I miss coaching - certain elements of coaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/i-miss-coaching-certain-elements-of-coaching/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [ We do know, with absolute certainty, that \[Saddam\] is using his procurement system to acquire the equipment he needs in order to enrich uranium… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-do-know-with-absolute-certainty-that-saddam-is-using-his/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Almost all of the governments have agreed that they will not acquire nuclear weapons and that they will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/almost-all-of-the-governments-have-agreed-that-they-will-not-acquire/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The nuclear industry is currently undergoing a rebirth. The uranium market will remain tight for at least the next three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gray/the-nuclear-industry-is-currently-undergoing-a-rebirth-the-uranium/) [Paul Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gray/) > [ At least with \[Hillary\] Clinton, you know, there was some degree of transparency. There was some sense of what's going on here, and a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/at-least-with-hillary-clinton-you-know-there-was-some-degree-of/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Let there be no doubt. Alien technology harvested from the infamous saucer crash in Roswell, N.Mex., in July 1947 led directly to the development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-j-corso/let-there-be-no-doubt-alien-technology-harvested-from-the-infamous/) [Philip J. Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-j-corso/) > [The part of uranium that's fissile - when you hit it with a neutron, it splits in two - is about 0.7%. The reactors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-part-of-uranium-that-s-fissile-when-you-hit-it-with-a-neutron-it/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Facts matter, Martha. You're a foreign policy expert. Facts matter. All this loose talk about them, 'All they have to do is get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/facts-matter-martha-you-re-a-foreign-policy-expert-facts-matter-all/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The Iranians know that if they develop nuclear weapons, they will be in tremendous jeopardy from military capabilities of their neighbors and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-iranians-know-that-if-they-develop-nuclear-weapons-they-will-be/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-british-government-has-learned-that-saddam-hussein-recently/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I didn't do anything for Russia. I've done nothing for Russia. Hillary Clinton gave them 20% of our uranium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-didn-t-do-anything-for-russia-i-ve-done-nothing-for-russia-hillary/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It's official: cyber terror is the new yellowcake uranium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-poulsen/it-s-official-cyber-terror-is-the-new-yellowcake-uranium/) [Kevin Poulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-poulsen/) ## More by Robert Andrews Millikan > [Just how we fit into the plans of the Great Architect and how much he has assigned us to do we do not know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/just-how-we-fit-into-the-plans-of-the-great-architect-and-how-much-he/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom. The glib supposition of utilizing atomic energy when our coal has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/there-is-no-likelihood-man-can-ever-tap-the-power-of-the-atom-the/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [One of the chief inhibitions to human progress arises because of the extreme slowness with which the advances in knowledge become translated into action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/one-of-the-chief-inhibitions-to-human-progress-arises-because-of-the/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [The fact that Science walks forward on two feet, namely theory and experiment, is nowhere better illustrated than in the two fields for slight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/the-fact-that-science-walks-forward-on-two-feet-namely-theory-and/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement of human wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/civilization-consists-in-the-multiplication-and-refinement-of-human/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [The pathetic thing about it is that many scientists are trying to prove the doctrine of evolution, which no science can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/the-pathetic-thing-about-it-is-that-many-scientists-are-trying-to/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [There is no likelihood that man can ever tap the power of the atom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/there-is-no-likelihood-that-man-can-ever-tap-the-power-of-the-atom/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [To me it is unthinkable that a real atheist could be a scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/to-me-it-is-unthinkable-that-a-real-atheist-could-be-a-scientist/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Science walks forward on two feet, namely theory and experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/science-walks-forward-on-two-feet-namely-theory-and-experiment/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Cultivate the habit of attention and try to gain opportunities to hear wise men and women talk. Indifference and inattention are the two most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/cultivate-the-habit-of-attention-and-try-to-gain-opportunities-to/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [The purpose of science is to develop, without prejudice or preconception of any kind, a knowledge of the facts, the laws, and the processes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/the-purpose-of-science-is-to-develop-without-prejudice-or/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Interest and attention will insure to you an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/interest-and-attention-will-insure-to-you-an-education/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Fullness of knowledge always and necessarily means some understanding of the depths of our ignorance, and that is always conducive to both humility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/fullness-of-knowledge-always-and-necessarily-means-some-understanding/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [I conceive the essential task of religion to be "to develop the consciences, the ideals, and the aspirations of mankind".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/i-conceive-the-essential-task-of-religion-to-be-to-develop-the/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [From that night on, the electron-up to that time largely the plaything of the scientist-had clearly entered the field as a potent agent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/from-that-night-on-the-electron-up-to-that-time-largely-the-plaything/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) [Explore all 29 Robert Andrews Millikan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) [T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) [Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have been forced to admit for the first time in history not only the possibility of the fact of the growth and decay of the elements of matter. With radium and with uranium we do not see anything but the decay. 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