"Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles; he can only discover them"

This quote by Thomas Paine speaks to the idea that science is based on a set of principles that are as fixed and unchangeable as the laws that govern deep space. Paine is recommending that these principles are not developed by human beings, however rather discovered by them. He is emphasizing the importance of comprehending the concepts that govern the universe, as they are the foundation of scientific understanding. He is also recommending that these principles are immutable, and that human beings can not modify them. This quote talks to the concept that science is based on a set of laws that are beyond human control, and that humans should strive to understand them in order to gain a much better understanding of the world around them.