"Human judges can show mercy. But against the laws of nature, there is no appeal"
- Arthur C. Clarke
About this Quote
Arthur C. Clarke was a British science fiction writer and creator that reflected on the restrictions of human power and the forces of nature. This quote, "Human judges can reveal grace. However against the regulations of nature, there is no charm," reveals his idea that while people have the capacity for compassion and forgiveness, the environment has its own collection of regulations as well as procedures that run without respect for human desires or requires.
In other words, Clarke is recommending that while people might have the power to pardon a misbehavior or provide a reprieve, we have no control over all-natural forces such as gravity, climate or natural calamities that could be dangerous to human life or building. No amount of begging, negotiating, or settlement can change the training course of natural occasions.
Hence, the quote is a reminder that while people might have free will as well as some action of control over their lives, we are still subject to the limitations of our environment and the regulations of nature that regulate it. We must find out to adjust as well as deal with these laws as opposed to attempt to withstand or oppose them.