# Was Isaac Newton a Virgin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 3, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408 "2003-09-03T21:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rad58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rad58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rad58)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/1 "2003-09-03T21:41:16Z")
I think you meant to call Richard Feynman a “bon viveur” (one who lives well) as opposed to a “bon vivant” (one who like good food). Otherwise, well written and very entertaining!🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/2 "2003-09-04T01:14:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rad58 \* > \*\*I think you meant to call Richard Feynman a “bon viveur” (one who lives well) as opposed to a “bon vivant” (one who like good food). > > Otherwise, well written and very entertaining!🆒 \*\* Welcome, **rad58**. Enjoy it here, it is nice place with lots of good people. For future reference, you should probably add a link to the column in question, in this case: [Was Issac Newton a Virgin?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_208.html) Also, **Cecil** is correct in his use of bon vivant. Its literal translation is “[good liver](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary)”. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/3 "2003-09-04T14:29:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\* > Also, **Cecil** is correct in his use of bon vivant. Its literal translation is “[good liver](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary)”. \*\* … an unlikely outcome, surely? 😉 Puts me in mind of the phrase “he needs a comprehensive education to make up for his comprehensive\* education”. - UK “high school” Julie ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/4 "2003-09-05T00:22:43Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **rad58** , glad to have you with us. \<\< Also,Cecil is correct in his use of bon vivant. Its literal translation is “good liver”.\>\> Why would anyone care about Mr Feynman’s liver? His kidneys, perhaps, but… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/5 "2003-09-05T02:25:33Z")
Drats. I knew I should have added the qualifier about internal organs\* being excluded. 🙂 Now, if we can just make it through this without anyone mentioning Monty Python\*\* we’ll be okay. \*By internal organs I mean the various things that pump our blood, clean our blood and so forth. I do not mean music making organs. 🙂 \*\*D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/6 "2003-09-05T03:04:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > Also, **Cecil** is correct in his use of bon vivant. Its literal translation is “[good liver](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary)”. We’ve come for your liver. But, I’m still using it! Is this your signature here on this organ donation card? Hmmm…yes. [breaking fourth wall] It’s a fair cop. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/7 "2003-09-05T09:51:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\* > > \*By internal organs I mean the various things that pump our blood, clean our blood and so forth. \*\* In other words, all the yummy things we Brits put into our puddings. Mmmmmmmm. 🙂 Julie ---
**Author:** ![capecodindependant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b4bc9f/32.png) [@capecodindependant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capecodindependant)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/8 "2003-09-06T22:07:50Z")
Was\>?Meaning what exactly?No…Issac was a sexually active heterosexual ---
**Author:** ![rklewis2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba8739/32.png) [@rklewis2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rklewis2)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/9 "2003-09-10T12:17:52Z")
Why not just say yes? Were we not all virgins once? ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-isaac-newton-a-virgin/199408/10 "2003-09-10T13:07:48Z")
Cecil did say yes for that very reason. Or at least “of course”.