Full Idea
Since something rather than nothing exists, there is a certain urge for existence, or (so to speak) a straining toward existence in possible things or in possibility or essence itself; in a word, essence in and of itself strives for existence.
Gist of Idea
There must be a straining towards existence in the essence of all possible things
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (On the Ultimate Origination of Things [1697], p.150)
Book Reference
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.150
A Reaction
Thus 'essence precedes existence'. Not sure I understand this, but at least it places an active power at the root of everything (though Leibniz probably sees that as divine). The Big Bang triggered by a 'quantum fluctuation'?