“Nothing is ever begotten of nothing by divine power.”Lucretius · Despre natura lucrurilor · -55 · Cartea I, versul 150
Nothing arises from nothing; everything has a material and natural cause.
Lucretius states the fundamental principle of Epicurean atomism: the universe is governed by natural laws, not divine whims. Every phenomenon has a material explanation based on the motion and combination of atoms. For instance, rain is not a divine sign but a physical process. This idea rejects superstition and paves the way for science, showing that the world can be understood rationally.
Why it matters In an age of misinformation, this principle reminds us to seek natural causes and evidence, not mystical explanations.