It is reasonable that forces directed toward bodies depend on

Listen, O seekers of wisdom, to the words of Isaac Newton, whose mind beheld the hidden laws that bind the heavens to the earth. He spoke thus: “It is reasonable that forces directed toward bodies depend on the nature and the quantity of matter of such bodies, as happens in the case of magnetic bodies.” Within this saying is not only a scientific truth but a parable for life: that forces—both seen and unseen—move according to the nature and substance of all things. As the magnet draws iron by an invisible power, so too are we drawn by the strength and quality of our being.

Newton, who watched the falling of an apple and pondered the dance of the stars, perceived that the universe is a web of attraction, each body pulling upon another, great or small. The Earth tugs upon the moon, the sun upon the planets, and even the smallest grain of sand exerts its pull. Nothing is without influence; nothing is beyond relation. This was not merely a revelation of mechanics—it was a vision of unity, that all matter, by its very being, participates in the eternal dialogue of force and response.

Consider how this wisdom shines beyond science. In human life, too, the weight of character and the nature of spirit determine the forces we exert upon others. A soul filled with truth and justice will draw hearts toward it, just as the lodestone gathers filings of iron. Likewise, a soul corrupted by deceit will repel or ensnare, depending on the darkness of its pull. The quantity of matter in Newton’s words is like the depth of virtue in a person: the greater the store of wisdom, compassion, and courage, the greater the influence upon the world.

History itself testifies to this law. Think of Mahatma Gandhi, a frail figure in appearance, yet filled with immense spiritual weight. Though his body was slight, the nature and quantity of his inner matter—his resolve, his truth, his relentless commitment—exerted a force that drew millions into the cause of freedom. Against empires armed with guns and armies, his strength was unseen, yet irresistible. Was this not the human echo of Newton’s principle, where the true force lies not in appearance, but in the nature and the weight of what is within?

Let us also recall the darker lesson. There have been men of vast power whose matter was poisoned with ambition and cruelty. Their influence, too, was great, but like a magnetic storm, it shattered rather than united. Thus Newton’s wisdom reminds us: force is inevitable, but its fruit depends on the nature of that which exerts it. As iron is pulled to the magnet, so are people drawn to leaders, ideas, and causes. But the outcome depends on whether the pull uplifts or destroys.

The teaching, then, is this: cultivate within yourself matter of the highest kind—truth, humility, courage, and love. For the forces you radiate are born of what you are, not what you pretend to be. You may think yourself small, as a grain of sand, yet by your nature you may draw others toward light. Likewise, beware of filling your inner substance with envy, hatred, or deceit, for then the force you send forth will wound both others and yourself.

Practical wisdom follows: when you walk among people, be mindful of the invisible gravity you carry. Speak words that uplift, act with integrity, and fill your soul with noble matter. In this way, like the magnetic body, you will naturally draw others into harmony with your presence. Be patient, for influence is not measured in the instant, but in the steady pull of character across time.

Thus, O children of tomorrow, take Newton’s words not only as a law of physics but as a law of life: forces depend on nature and quantity. Make your nature pure, and fill your life with the weight of virtue. Then shall your influence, like the force of gravity itself, be constant, unseen, yet unbreakable—binding others not with chains, but with the eternal pull of truth.