In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence.
Interpretation
Newton suggests that even the simplicity of the human thumb can be seen as evidence of a divine creator.
Isaac Newton emphasizes the complexity and precision found in nature, using the thumb as an example of human design, to argue that such intricacies imply the existence of a higher intelligence or God. He implies that the natural world and its wonders serve as a form of proof for the existence of the divine, even when other evidence is lacking.
In practice
This quote could be used in a discussion about the relationship between science and faith.
The best and safest way of philosophising seems to be, first to enquire diligently into the properties of things, and to establish those properties by experiences [experiments] and then to proceed slowly to hypotheses for the explanation of them. For hypotheses should be employed only in explaining the properties of things, but not assumed in determining them; unless so far as they may furnish experiments.
Plato is my friend, Aristotle is my friend, but my greatest friend is truth.
His epitaph: Who, by vigor of mind almost divine, the motions and figures of the planets, the paths of comets, and the tides of the seas first demonstrated.
And from true lordship it follows that the true God is living, intelligent, and powerful; from the other perfections, that he is supreme, or supremely perfect. He is eternal and infinite, omnipotent and omniscient; that is, he endures from eternity to eternity; and he is present from infinity to infinity; he rules all things, and he knows all things that happen or can happen.
My Design in this Book is not to explain the Properties of Light by Hypotheses, but to propose and prove them by Reason and Experiments: In order to which, I shall premise the following Definitions and Axioms.
It is the weight, not numbers of experiments that is to be regarded.
You have no idea how much nastier I would be if I was not a Catholic. Without supernatural aid I would hardly be a human being.
We should meet abuse by forbearance. Human nature is so constituted that if we take absolutely no notice of anger or abuse, the person indulging in it will soon weary of it and stop.
Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead.
I emphasize in it [my Orientalism] accortdingly that neither the term Orient nor the concept of the West has any ontological stability; each is made up of human effort, partly affirmation, partly identification of the Other.
There can be many opinions on a thing, but there is only one truth." Vashet smiled lazily. "And if the pursuit of the truth was my goal, that would concern me." She gave a long yawn, stretching like a happy cat. "Instead I will focus on the joy in my heart, [...}
Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places.
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