--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Opposites meet; extremes look alike. A…" description: "\"“Opposites meet; extremes look alike. A top that is not rotating is motionless. The same top at its highest velocity also looks motionless.”\" — Swami S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/swami-satchidananda-13703_opposites_opposites-meet-extremes-look-alike-a-top_20846.png" --- # Opposites meet; extremes look alike. A top that is not… ![“Opposites meet; extremes look alike. A top that is not rotating is motionless. The same top at its highest velocity also looks motionless.” quote by Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/swami-satchidananda-13703_opposites_opposites-meet-extremes-look-alike-a-top_20846.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/swami-satchidananda-13703_opposites_opposites-meet-extremes-look-alike-a-top_20846.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/995/swami-satchidananda-13703_opposites_opposites-meet-extremes-look-alike-a-top_20846.png) > ““Opposites meet; extremes look alike. A top that is not rotating is motionless. The same top at its highest velocity also looks motionless.”” [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Paradoxes arise when opposites converge, revealing that motion and stillness can appear identical under extreme conditions. **In simple terms:** Opposites can appear the same at extremes. Key Takeaway Extremes blur distinctions. Themes paradox perception relativity balance duality Mood intrigued reflective Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - physics demonstrations - meditative contemplation - artistic visual effects Key Concepts relative motion visual illusion extreme states Practical Applications - explaining optical phenomena - illustrating philosophical concepts Questions to Reflect On - How does context change our perception of motion? - When might stillness be mistaken for movement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) ## Related quotes > [The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/the-most-exciting-attractions-are-between-two-opposites-that-never/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [“Because, my dear, in the spiritual life opposites meet. It's not the cold passionless ones who become great ascetics, but the most hot-blooded, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antal-szerb/because-my-dear-in-the-spiritual-life-opposites-meet-it-s-not-the/) [Antal Szerb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antal-szerb/) > [Write against patterns. Go against the devils. Write what you never write. Lie. Validate what you don’t validate. Indulge what you don’t like. Wallow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deena-metzger/write-against-patterns-go-against-the-devils-write-what-you-never/) [Deena Metzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deena-metzger/) > [... many folks take them seriously because they just 'know' that evolution can never be seen in the immediate here and now. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/many-folks-take-them-seriously-because-they-just-know-that-evolution/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Humor is the opposite of all self-admiration and self-praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/humor-is-the-opposite-of-all-self-admiration-and-self-praise/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Rapping and singing are not two polar opposites. There's so much middle ground. And I think there's a lot of people who find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-koenig/rapping-and-singing-are-not-two-polar-opposites-there-s-so-much/) [Ezra Koenig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-koenig/) > [Most marriages I've known, and I've been married a long time and I've known a lot of married people - you wonder how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mazursky/most-marriages-i-ve-known-and-i-ve-been-married-a-long-time-and-i-ve/) [Paul Mazursky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mazursky/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [The beautiful image today means nothing. It's worthshit. In fact, it's almost as if it has the opposite effect, becauseyou're just like everything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/the-beautiful-image-today-means-nothing-it-s-worthshit-in-fact-it-s/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More by Swami Satchidananda > [Our own true nature is Infinite Joy! Always happy, Always peaceful, Always free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/our-own-true-nature-is-infinite-joy-always-happy-always-peaceful/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Who will be the happiest person? The one who brings happiness to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/who-will-be-the-happiest-person-the-one-who-brings-happiness-to-others/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Yoga is not only learning to stand on your head but also learning to stand on your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/yoga-is-not-only-learning-to-stand-on-your-head-but-also-learning-to/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Just as a little bird cracks open the shell and flies out, we fly out of this shell, the shell of the body. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/just-as-a-little-bird-cracks-open-the-shell-and-flies-out-we-fly-out/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Music is the celestial sound, and it is sound that controls the whole universe, not atomic vibrations. Sound energy, sound power, is much, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/music-is-the-celestial-sound-and-it-is-sound-that-controls-the-whole/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/we-can-be-serene-even-in-the-midst-of-calamities-and-by-our-serenity/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [If you are becoming more easeful, peaceful & useful then you know you are growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/if-you-are-becoming-more-easeful-peaceful-useful-then-you-know-you/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [“Happiness is not be sought outside. It can never come from outside or from inside--because it simply is. It is always. Where? Everywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/happiness-is-not-be-sought-outside-it-can-never-come-from-outside-or/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Don't give up your power to change things. Negativity and unhappiness are caused by you. You can change your attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/don-t-give-up-your-power-to-change-things-negativity-and-unhappiness/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [“Doesn't the bible say "blessed are the pure in the heart, so they shall see God?" when? Only when there is purity in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/doesn-t-the-bible-say-blessed-are-the-pure-in-the-heart-so-they-shall/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [As you are, you see everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/as-you-are-you-see-everything-else/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [The moment you understand yourself as the true Self, you find such peace and bliss that the impressions of the petty enjoyments you experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/the-moment-you-understand-yourself-as-the-true-self-you-find-such/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Peace comes not from doing, but from undoing; not from getting, but from letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/peace-comes-not-from-doing-but-from-undoing-not-from-getting-but-from/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [You are the cause of your own joy or your own misery. You hold that power. You are your own friend and your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/you-are-the-cause-of-your-own-joy-or-your-own-misery-you-hold-that/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Give up the drop and gain the whole ocean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/give-up-the-drop-and-gain-the-whole-ocean/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) [Explore all 49 Swami Satchidananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) ## More Opposites quotes > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The beautiful image today means nothing. It's worthshit. In fact, it's almost as if it has the opposite effect, becauseyou're just like everything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/the-beautiful-image-today-means-nothing-it-s-worthshit-in-fact-it-s/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Most marriages I've known, and I've been married a long time and I've known a lot of married people - you wonder how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mazursky/most-marriages-i-ve-known-and-i-ve-been-married-a-long-time-and-i-ve/) [Paul Mazursky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mazursky/) > [Rapping and singing are not two polar opposites. There's so much middle ground. And I think there's a lot of people who find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-koenig/rapping-and-singing-are-not-two-polar-opposites-there-s-so-much/) [Ezra Koenig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-koenig/) > [Humor is the opposite of all self-admiration and self-praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/humor-is-the-opposite-of-all-self-admiration-and-self-praise/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [... many folks take them seriously because they just 'know' that evolution can never be seen in the immediate here and now. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/many-folks-take-them-seriously-because-they-just-know-that-evolution/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Write against patterns. Go against the devils. Write what you never write. Lie. Validate what you don’t validate. Indulge what you don’t like. Wallow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deena-metzger/write-against-patterns-go-against-the-devils-write-what-you-never/) [Deena Metzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deena-metzger/) > [The longer I live, the more it grieves me to see man, who occupies his supreme place for the very purpose of imposing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-longer-i-live-the-more-it-grieves-me-to-see-man-who-occupies-his/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,828 Opposites quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Opposites meet; extremes look alike. A top that is not rotating is motionless. 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