--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The demonstration that no possible…" description: "\"The demonstration that no possible combination of known substances, known forms of machinery and known forms of force, can be united in a practical mac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/simon-newcomb-16581_air_the-demonstration-that-no-possible-combi_2482551.png" --- # The demonstration that no possible combination of known… ![“The demonstration that no possible combination of known substances, known forms of machinery and known forms of force, can be united in a practical machine by which men shall fly along distances through the air, seems to the writer as complete as it is possible for the demonstration to be.” quote by Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/simon-newcomb-16581_air_the-demonstration-that-no-possible-combi_2482551.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/simon-newcomb-16581_air_the-demonstration-that-no-possible-combi_2482551.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/simon-newcomb-16581_air_the-demonstration-that-no-possible-combi_2482551.png) > “The demonstration that no possible combination of known substances, known forms of machinery and known forms of force, can be united in a practical machine by which men shall fly along distances through the air, seems to the writer as complete as it is possible for the demonstration to be.” [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer argues that physics and technology at the time made human flight impossible. **In simple terms:** Flight seemed impossible with known science. Key Takeaway Accept limits, but keep innovating. Themes science technology limitations Mood skeptical inquisitive Type analytical historical When to use this quote - aeronautics research - inventor brainstorming - educational lectures Key Concepts physics engineering human ambition Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions limit today’s inventions? - How can we test “impossible” ideas? A Different Perspective Future breakthroughs may overturn current limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Airplane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airplane/) [Combination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combination/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Demonstration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstration/) [Demonstration Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstration-possible-879512/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Flying machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying-machines/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Long distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-distance/) [Machinery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machinery/) [Machinery Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machinery-known-879515/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Possible Demonstration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-demonstration-879513/) [Practical Machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-machine-879514/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) [William Henry Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-pickering/) > [These airplanes we have today are no more than a perfection of a toy made of paper children use to play with. 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