Change

The energy given out in these changes is, weight for weight of matter concerned, of the order of a million times as great as that given out in any previous change known. The energy that would be liberated in the complete change of an ounce [28 gram] of radium, a process which would require thousands of years, is equal to that furbished by ten tons of coal during complete combustion. If it could be made to disintegrate suddenly and explosively, instead of gradually, an ounce of radium would produce as much effect as many tons of the most powerful detonator known. So far all attempts to accelerate or retard the rate of disintegration have been failures, though many such experiments have been tried.
— Frederick Soddy (1877 – 1956), Report of a lecture given in Birmingham September 16, 1913, published in the New York Times, September 28, 1913.

Why is the change gradual? Why does only a minute fraction of the radium disintegrate in any particular second? Why does it dole itself out so slowly and so exactly? Why does not all the uranium change to radium and all the radium change to the next lowest thing at once? Why this decay by driblets; why not a decay en masse? Suppose presently we find it possible to quicken that decay?
— H. G. Wells (1866 – 1946), The World Set Free, 1913.

An old Dutch farmer, who remarked to a companion once that it was best not to swap horses in mid-stream.
— Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865), speech, 9 June, 1864.

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
— Holy Bible, Gospel according to St Matthew, 6:27.

One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.
— Walter Bagehot (1801 – 1859), Physics and Politics.

Time is the greatest innovator
— Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) Of innovations, 1625.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
— French proverb.

We tell these tales, which are strictly true,
Just by way of convincing you
How very little, since things was made,
Anything alters in anyone’s trade.
— Rudyard Kipling (1865 – 1936).

The universe is transformation …
— Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180) Meditations, Book IV.

 While you, great George, for knowledge hunt,
And sharp conductor change for blunt
The nation’s out of joint:
Franklin a wiser course pursues
And all your thunder useless views
By keeping to the point.
— Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) (attrib.)

Listen and I will explain the nature of the field and how change takes place within it.
— Bhagavad Gita, 13:3, in the translation of Eknath Easwaran, Arkana Books, 1985.

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