The breadth of physical phenomena subject to study by action principles lead scientists from all centuries to view these concepts as especially fundamental; the connection of two points by paths lead some to suggest a "purpose" to the selection of one particular path. This teleological viewpoint runs from the earliest physics through Fermat, Maupertuis, and on up to Max Planck, without, however, any scientific backing. The use of colorful language continues in the modern era with phrases like "Nature's command (to) Explore all paths! " or "It isn't that a particle takes the path of least action but that it smells all the paths in the neighborhood...".