Isaac Newton, shortly before his death, summed up his life thus: “What the world will think of me I know not. I seem to myself to have been only a boy playing on the sea-shore, amusing himself with finding, now and then, a pebble a little smoother, or a shell a little prettier than usual, while the great ocean of truth lay undiscovered before him.” NB: Regarding the date of Newton’s death: during his lifetime, two calendars were in use in Europe: the Julian calendar (“Old Style”) in Protestant and Orthodox regions, including Great Britain; and the Gregorian calendar (“New Style”) in Roman Catholic Europe. At Newton’s birth, Gregorian dates were 10 days ahead of Julian dates: so his birth is recorded as December 25, 1642, Old Style, but can be converted to a New Style (modern) date of January 4, 1643. By his death, the difference between the calendars had increased to 11 days. Furthermore, he died just after the start of the New Style year on January 1, but before the start of the Old Style new year on March 25. His death occurred on March 20, 1726, according to the Old Style calendar, but the year is usually adjusted to 1727. A full conversion to the New Style gives the date March 31, 1727.
