“He told me, he was just in the same situation [i. e. in a garden], as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came into his mind. It was occasion'd by the fall of an apple, as he sat in a contemplative mood. Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground, thought he to him self. Why should it not go sideways or upwards, but constantly to the earths centre? Assuredly, the reason is, that the earth draws it. There must be a drawing power in matter.”

A Hastings White (ed.) Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton's Life (1936) pp. 19-20. (1752)
Relating a conversation with Sir Isaac Newton.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "He told me, he was just in the same situation [i. e. in a garden], as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came int…" by William Stukeley?
William Stukeley photo
William Stukeley 3
English antiquarian 1687–1765

Related quotes

Rob Enderle photo

“Given Steve Jobs, for instance, is critical to Apple's success is there anything short of eating live babies on national TV that he should be fired for? Where would you draw that line or should he be held to the same rules and laws that the rest of us are held to?”

Rob Enderle (1954) American financial analyst

Mark Hurd falls, could Larry Ellison and Steve Jobs be next? http://tgdaily.com/opinion/51025-mark-hurd-falls-could-larry-ellison-and-steve-jobs-be-next in TG Daily (10 August 2010)

“He came to love, He came to warn
Why do you weep on the day He's born?
He draws the path I walk upon
I died to live just for the Son
Find love, find peace
If you let Him increase”

Ysabella Brave (1979) American singer

"He Will Increase" (24 December 2009) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQEXWelvxOU

Michael Crichton photo
Percy Bysshe Shelley photo
Robert G. Ingersoll photo

“Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to express his thoughts?”

Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–1899) Union United States Army officer

Heretics and Heresies (1874)
Context: Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to express his thoughts?
Is it possible that an infinite Deity is unwilling that a man should investigate the phenomena by which he is surrounded? Is it possible that a god delights in threatening and terrifying men? What glory, what honor and renown a god must win on such a field! The ocean raving at a drop; a star envious of a candle; the sun jealous of a fire-fly.

Emily St. John Mandel photo
Ramana Maharshi photo
Carl Friedrich Gauss photo

Related topics