Who said, "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants?"

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”, was written by Isaac Newton, a very influential 18th century scientist. The well-known words are said to have been inspired by the 12th century philosopher Bertrand of Chartres. Scholars and many experts in scientific and research-based fields of study have noted that the quote was found in a 1676 letter from Isaac Newton to Robert Hooke, a physicist who discovered the law of elasticity, known as Hooke's law.

Those interested in this quote are told by professional archivists that 'giants' means the scientists and philosophers who have provided initial theories on physics and other disciplines which help followers to create new theories based on the discoveries and observations that came before and were astutely made. So Newton, for example, continuously worked on prior discoveries initially provided by a predecessor in his field of study, until he found real scientific proof for his theory. Newton was looking for coherence data to support his hypothesis. He stood on someone's shoulders and was able to benefit from their experience.

Newton (January 1643 - March 1727) was an English mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. He has been recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time. He was a key figure in the scientific revolution. Classical mechanics are based on his mathematical ideas and he also greatly helped with optics and developing infinitesimal calculus.