QuoteQuest“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
— Isaac Newton, 1676
Verification
VerifiedWording confirmed against a primary source.
Original letter survives. The metaphor predates Newton (Bernard of Chartres, 12th century).
Source
- Title
- Letter to Robert Hooke
- Type
- letter · Primary source
- Date
- 5 February 1675/6
- Location
- Letter text
- Held by
- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Context
Written to scientific rival Robert Hooke, discussing work on optics.
What it means
New discoveries build on the work of earlier thinkers.
Cite this source
Newton, Isaac. (5 February 1675/6). Letter to Robert Hooke. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. https://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/objects/9792
Check citations against your institution's style guide; some details may be missing.
Provenance: Manually entered from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania record.