German philosopher & mathematician (1646-1716)
For, above all, I hold a notion of possibility and necessity according to which there are some things that are possible, but yet not necessary, and which do not really exist. From this it follows that a reason that always forces a free mind to choose one thing over another (whether that reason derives from the perfection of a thing, as it does in God, or from our imperfection) does not eliminate our freedom.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
"On Freedom and Possibility", Philosophical Essays
Justice is charity in accordance with wisdom.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
"A Dialogue", The Shorter Leibniz Texts
Let there be two possible things, A and B, one of which is such that it is necessary that it exists, and let us assume that there is more perfection in A than in B. Then, at least, we can explain why A should exist rather than B and can foresee which of them will exist; indeed, this can be demonstrated, that is, rendered certain from the nature of the thing.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
"On Freedom and Possibility", Philosophical Essays
Taking mathematics from the beginning of the world to the time when Newton lived, what he had done was much the better half.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
attributed, A Biographical Sketch of Sir Isaac Newton
Nothing is necessitated whose opposite is possible.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
Discours de métaphysique
I have said more than once, that I hold space to be something purely relative, as time; an order of coexistences, as time is an order of successions.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
letter to Samuel Clarke, February 25, 1716
I am convinced that the unwritten knowledge scattered among men of different callings surpasses in quantity and in importance anything we find in books, and that the greater part of our wealth has yet to be recorded.
GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ
Discours touchant la méthode de la certitude et de l'art d'inventer pour finir les disputes et pour faire en peu de temps de grands progrès