Able Quote by Simon Newcomb
“Aerial flight is one of that class of problems with which man will never be able to cope. . . . The example of the bird does not prove that man can fly. Imagine the proud possessor of the aeroplane darting through the air at a speed of several hundred feet per second. It is the speed alone that sustains him. How is he ever going to stop?”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Aeronautics, 1905
Human flight faces fundamental physical limits; speed alone cannot ensure control.
In simple terms: Flying is constrained by physics and control.
Key Takeaway
Respect natural limits in engineering.
Themes
technology
physics
limitations
Mood
thoughtful
technical
Type
scientific
speculative
When to use this quote
- designing aircraft
- space travel
- high‑speed transport
Key Concepts
aerodynamics
control theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What engineering solutions address speed control?
- Are there alternative propulsion methods?
A Different Perspective
Human ingenuity may overcome perceived limits.
![“It is apparent to me that the possibilities of the aeroplane, which two or three years ago were thought to hold the solution to the [flying machine] problem, have been exhausted, and that we must turn elsewhere.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2d5/thomas-a-edison-866_aeroplanes_it-is-apparent-to-me-that-the-possibilit_1009237.jpg)
