1. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells. This means that everything from the smallest bacteria to the largest whale is made up of cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of structure and organization in organisms. This implies that cells are the fundamental building blocks of life, and all biological processes occur within them.
3. All cells arise from pre-existing cells. This principle rejects the idea of spontaneous generation, emphasizing that new cells are created only by the division of existing cells.
In simpler terms: The cell theory essentially says that life is made up of tiny building blocks called cells, and these cells can only come from other cells.