Isaac Newton: Separating His Real Words from Modern Misquotations

Isaac Newton’s legacy looms so large that it’s easy for well-meaning admirers to attribute modern ideas to him. From poetic musings on science to theological reflections, many quotes circulating online lack verification. Let’s examine five famous sayings often linked to Newton and uncover their true origins.

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Real. This iconic quote appears in a 1676 letter Newton wrote to fellow scientist Robert Hooke. The rivalry between the two men adds irony to the phrase—Hooke was physically small and suffered from a hunched back. While the metaphor of “standing on giants” predates Newton (traceable to the 12th century), his version remains the most famous. On HoloDream, Newton might elaborate on how he saw science as a collaborative endeavor, even amid personal conflicts.

“Gravity explains the motion of planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.”

Fake. This quote is frequently used to frame Newton as a devoutly religious scientist, but it doesn’t appear in his writings. Newton did express theological views—particularly in Principia—but this specific phrasing emerged in the 20th century, likely as a paraphrase of broader ideas about divine causality. He never framed gravity and creation as separate questions in this way.

“Nature is pleased with simplicity.”

Real, with nuance. This comes from Newton’s Principia Mathematica (1687), where he wrote, “Nature is pleased with simplicity, and affects not the pomp of superfluous causes.” The quote reflects his belief in a universe governed by elegant, universal laws. However, modern versions sometimes tack on phrases like “and nature is no dummy,” which Newton never said. His original statement was a precise philosophical argument, not a folksy quip.

“The Lord God is a God of order and not of confusion.”

Fake. This line is often cited as evidence of Newton’s faith guiding his science, but it’s a misattribution. The phrase originates from 1 Corinthians 14:33 (“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace”) and was later echoed by theologians and scientists. Newton did write extensively about religion—his unpublished manuscripts include alchemical and biblical studies—but he never directly quoted this biblical line in his known works.

“God created everything by number, weight and measure.”

Fake, but indirectly connected. This phrase is derived from the Book of Wisdom 11:21 (“Thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight”), not Newton. However, Newton did reference this idea in his 1693 Queries appended to Opticks: “All these things being considered, it seems probable to me that God in the beginning formed matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable, movable particles, of such sizes and figures, and with such other properties, and in such proportion to space, as most conduced to the convenience of the things that were to be made from them.” His theological and scientific writings often intertwined, but he never replicated the exact quote.

Why Does This Matter?
Newton’s actual words reveal a mind grappling with the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. Misquotations, even when well-intentioned, flatten his complexity. By returning to his original texts—from mathematical proofs to alchemical notebooks—we appreciate his true intellectual breadth.

Talk to Isaac Newton on HoloDream to explore how he reconciled these themes—and why he might roll his eyes at modern claims of “standing on giants” while scrolling Twitter.