1. "*If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.*"
With this quote, Newton acknowledged the contributions of scientists who came before him and whose work laid the foundation for his discoveries.
He recognized that scientific progress is a collective effort that builds upon the achievements of previous generations.
2. "*Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is neither luxurious nor wasteful with means, but achieves everything for us in ways that are simple yet most sure.*"
This quote signifies Newton's belief in the elegant simplicity of natural laws. He considered nature to be efficient and characterized by straightforward yet efficacious principles.
3. "*Hypotheses non fingo.*"
Translated from Latin, this phrase means "*I do not feign hypotheses.*" Newton expressed that he refrained from formulating hypotheses without robust evidence to support them. To explain natural phenomena, he preferred well-substantiated laws derived from meticulous observations and mathematical reasoning.
4. "*It is the peculiar fate of Science to have always its first inventors buried in silence with it.**"
With this observation, Newton highlighted the fact that many scientific pioneers often remain overlooked or unacknowledged when groundbreaking discoveries are made. Such achievements may only receive widespread recognition long after their inception.
5. "*If I am anything, it is because of you.*"
Newton expressed gratefulness and humility while addressing Isaac Barrow, his mentor at the University of Cambridge. Newton attributed his accomplishments, in part, to the knowledge and guidance he received from influential figures who supported his intellectual pursuits.
*These quotes by Sir Isaac Newton exemplify his rigorous and methodical approach to scientific inquiry, emphasizing the significance of evidence, simplicity, and acknowledging the work of predecessors. His words continue to inspire and guide scientific pursuit. *