A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding.

— Isaac Newton

Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.

— Isaac Newton

A Vulgar Mechanics can practice what he has been taught or seen done, but if he is in an error he knows not how to find it out and correct it, and if you put him out of his road he is at a stand. Whereas he that is able to reason nimbly and judiciously about figure, force, and motion, is never at rest till he gets over every rub.(from a letter dated 25 May 1694)

— Isaac Newton

Blind metaphysical necessity, which is certainly the same always and everywhere, could produce no variety of things. All that diversity of natural things which we find suited to different times and places could arise from nothing but the ideas and will of a Being, necessarily existing.

— Isaac Newton

Eorum opium actions in see invited

— Isaac Newton

Errors are not in the art but in the artificers.

— Isaac Newton

Fidelity and allegiance sworn to the King is only such a fidelity and obedience as is due to him by the law of the land; for were that faith and allegiance more than what the law requires, we would swear ourselves slaves and the King absolute; whereas, by the law, we are free men, notwithstanding those oaths.

— Isaac Newton

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

— Isaac Newton

For I see not what there is desirable in public esteem, were I able to acquire & maintain it. It would perhaps increase my acquaintance, the thing which I chiefly study to decline.

— Isaac Newton

Genius is patience.

— Isaac Newton