GW

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

28quotes

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz


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Full Name and Common Aliases

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was born on July 1, 1646, in Leipzig, Germany. He is commonly known as G.W. Leibniz, Leibniz or simply Gottfried Leibniz.

Birth and Death Dates

Born: July 1, 1646
 Died: November 14, 1716

Nationality and Profession(s)

Nationality: German

Professions: Philosopher, Mathematician, Physicist, Diplomat

Early Life and Background

Gottfried Leibniz was born in Leipzig to Friedrich Leibniz, a professor of moral philosophy at the University of Leipzig. His mother, Eva Maria Schmuck, died when Gottfried was just six years old. This led his father to marry Anna Barbara Schoeppich, who became Gottfried's stepmother.

Leibniz attended the prestigious Nicolai School in Leipzig and later studied philosophy and law at the University of Leipzig. He moved to Paris in 1672 where he met various influential thinkers and scientists of the time.

Major Accomplishments

Independent Invention of Calculus: Leibniz is credited with developing calculus, a fundamental concept in mathematics that deals with rates of change and accumulation.
 Philosophy: Leibniz made significant contributions to philosophy, particularly in the areas of metaphysics, epistemology, and the theory of knowledge.
Optics: He was one of the first scientists to study the properties of light and its behavior.

Notable Works or Actions

Some notable works include:

_Nova Methodus Dissimulandi_ (1680) - a treatise on cryptography
_Meditationes de Cognitione, Veritate et Ideis_ (1684-85) - a work on metaphysics and epistemology
 _De Arte Combinatoria_ (1666-1679) - an unfinished manuscript that explores the art of combination

Impact and Legacy

Leibniz's contributions to calculus had a profound impact on mathematics, physics, engineering, and other fields. His philosophical ideas influenced many thinkers, including Immanuel Kant, and his concepts of space and time continue to shape modern theories.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered

Gottfried Leibniz is widely quoted for his insightful statements on various subjects:

"The art of reasoning is nothing but the calculation of the effects of causes."
 "There are as many ways of understanding a thing as there are minds to understand it."

Leibniz's intellectual curiosity, innovative thinking, and groundbreaking discoveries have left an enduring legacy in science, philosophy, and mathematics. His quotes continue to inspire and challenge thinkers across disciplines.

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a true polymath whose contributions to various fields remain unparalleled.

Quotes by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz's insights on:

It is true that the more we see some connection in what happens to us, the more we are confirmed in the opinion we have about the reality of our appearances; and it is also true that the more we examine our appearances closely, the more we find them well-sequenced, as microscopes and other aids in making experiments have shown us.
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It is true that the more we see some connection in what happens to us, the more we are confirmed in the opinion we have about the reality of our appearances; and it is also true that the more we examine our appearances closely, the more we find them well-sequenced, as microscopes and other aids in making experiments have shown us.
GW
It is true that as the empty voids and the dismal wilderness belong to zero, so the spirit of God and His light belong to the all-powerful One.
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It is true that as the empty voids and the dismal wilderness belong to zero, so the spirit of God and His light belong to the all-powerful One.
GW
There is nothing in the understanding which has not come from the senses, except the understanding itself, or the one who understands.
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There is nothing in the understanding which has not come from the senses, except the understanding itself, or the one who understands.
GW
Nothing is in the intellect that was not first in the senses, except the intellect itself.
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Nothing is in the intellect that was not first in the senses, except the intellect itself.
GW
The means of obtaining as much variety as possible, but with the greatest possible order... is the means of obtaining as much perfection as possible.
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The means of obtaining as much variety as possible, but with the greatest possible order... is the means of obtaining as much perfection as possible.
GW
Music is the hidden arithmetical exercise of a mind unconscious that it is calculating.
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Music is the hidden arithmetical exercise of a mind unconscious that it is calculating.
GW
When the origin of remote peoples goes beyond history, our languages show themselves their oldest monuments.
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When the origin of remote peoples goes beyond history, our languages show themselves their oldest monuments.
GW
Perceptions which are at present insensible may grow some day: nothing is useless, and eternity provides great scope for change.
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Perceptions which are at present insensible may grow some day: nothing is useless, and eternity provides great scope for change.
GW
I don’t really eliminate body, but reduce it to what it is. For I show that corporeal mass, which is thought to have something over and above simple substances, is not a substance, but a phenomenon resulting from simple substances, which alone have unity and absolute reality.
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I don’t really eliminate body, but reduce it to what it is. For I show that corporeal mass, which is thought to have something over and above simple substances, is not a substance, but a phenomenon resulting from simple substances, which alone have unity and absolute reality.
GW
I have so many ideas that may perhaps be of some use in time if others more penetrating than I go deeply into them someday and join the beauty of their minds to the labour of mine.
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I have so many ideas that may perhaps be of some use in time if others more penetrating than I go deeply into them someday and join the beauty of their minds to the labour of mine.
GW
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