The history of science shows that theories are perishable. With

“The history of science shows that theories are perishable. With every new truth that is revealed we get a better understanding of Nature and our conceptions and views are modified.” – Nikola Tesla

There are words that shimmer with the light of timeless understanding, and none shine more clearly than those spoken by Nikola Tesla, the herald of lightning and dreamer of the unseen. In this reflection, he speaks as one who has peered into the heart of Nature and seen its mysteries unfold like layers of an eternal scroll. He reminds us that science, though powerful, is not a monument carved in stone, but a living river — flowing, changing, reshaping its course as new truths are discovered. Theories, he says, are perishable; they live for a season, then fade as deeper understanding dawns. To cling to them as unchanging truth is to resist the very spirit of discovery that gave them birth.

In the ancient world, men gazed at the heavens and declared that the Earth stood still, that the stars circled around us in perfect harmony. For centuries, this was law — the geocentric truth of Ptolemy, guarded by priests and scholars alike. Yet one man, Copernicus, dared to whisper a different vision: that we were not the center, but the wanderers around a greater flame. For this truth, others like Galileo suffered persecution. Their theories were mocked, their observations silenced. But truth, though suppressed, never dies. It only waits for the minds brave enough to see. And so, Tesla’s words remind us that even the most “sacred” idea must one day yield to something greater — for knowledge grows, and all things must change with it.

Tesla himself was no stranger to this law of impermanence. In his time, science was enthralled by material explanations — what could be seen, touched, and measured. Yet Tesla spoke of energy, of vibration, of invisible forces that shaped all things. Many dismissed his visions as fantasy, but decades later, modern physics would begin to unveil truths that vindicated his foresight. The electromagnetic fields he explored, the wireless power he imagined, the unity of matter and energy he described — all became pillars of the science that followed. He was a man standing between eras, watching the old theories perish and the new dawn arise.

The heart of his wisdom is humility before the universe. Tesla reminds us that truth is not owned, only discovered in fragments. Each generation sees farther because the last built the ladder higher. The scientist who believes he has found the final answer has already ceased to be a scientist. The philosopher who claims all knowledge has betrayed wisdom itself. To walk the path of discovery is to embrace the eternal modification of understanding — to see change not as loss, but as progress.

This truth applies not only to science, but to the soul. For are we not all seekers of understanding? The beliefs we hold today — about ourselves, about others, about the world — are but theories of the moment. With every new experience, every insight, every sorrow and triumph, our views are modified. The wise man welcomes this change; the foolish man resists it. Life itself is a great experiment, and those who cling too tightly to old certainties grow stagnant, while those who remain curious become ever more alive.

Consider also the story of Isaac Newton. His laws of motion defined the universe for centuries, bringing clarity where there was once chaos. Yet even Newton’s brilliance met its horizon. When Einstein revealed the theory of relativity, the old framework did not collapse — it transformed. Newton’s truths were not wrong; they were incomplete. Such is the nature of all knowledge: each truth carries within it the seed of its own evolution. Tesla’s insight captures this eternal rhythm — that no idea is final, and no discovery is the last word of creation.

Let this be your lesson, child of curiosity: hold fast to truth, but not to pride. Let your mind be open as the sky, your heart willing to be remade by learning. Question, test, and grow. Know that even the brightest flame of understanding must one day yield to a brighter dawn. Whether in science, in faith, or in the quiet exploration of the self, let the words of Tesla be your compass: our conceptions must evolve, for the universe itself is still speaking, still unfolding, still revealing new wonders to those who dare to listen.

And so, walk as the seeker walks — humble, bold, and unafraid of change. For the moment we believe we know all there is to know, we stop truly knowing. But when we accept that all knowledge is a journey, we become, like Tesla, discoverers not only of the world — but of truth itself.