Existence Quote by Samuel Butler
“You cannot have a thing "matter" by itself which shall have no motion in it, nor yet a thing "motion" by itself which shall exist apart from matter; you must have both or neither. You can have matter moving much, or little, and in all conceivable ways; but you cannot have matter without any motion more than you can have motion without any matter that is moving.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Erewhon, Samuel Butler, 1872
Matter and motion are interdependent; neither can exist alone, and both are essential for physical reality.
In simple terms: Matter needs motion; motion needs matter.
Key Takeaway
Recognize interdependence.
Themes
physics
philosophy
ontology
interdependence
Mood
analytical
reflective
inquisitive
Type
scientific
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- engineering design
- environmental policy
- health science
- educational curriculum
- technology development
Key Concepts
scientific theory
metaphysics
systems thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this interdependence appear in your field?
- Can you identify situations where one element dominates?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems may exhibit emergent behavior beyond simple interdependence.
