If you mean nothing as in "not from pre-existing energy/matter, then I think that statement is not true. Virtual particles (cassini effect) come into existence from "nothing," i.e. not from pre-existing matter/energy.
It violates the principle that whatever begins to exist has a cause.
Well, if you'd like to be scientific, the physical laws/forces of the universe are the cause.
Even a quantum vacuum is not nothing.
The laws of the universe exist everywhere in the universe - even where matter does not, so even where there is no energy or matter, the "rules" are still present.
You're right in that in a quantum vacuum consists of particles and antiparticles that briefly appear and then disappear just as quickly – from nothing (no matter).
thanks for your reply..
How can you have physical laws/forces where there is no universe, i.e. nothing?
Virtual particles (cassini effect) come into existence from "nothing," i.e. not from pre-existing matter/energy.
Even virtual particles do not literally come into existence spontaneously out of nothing. They are the product, however briefly, of energy fluctuations in the quantum vacuum, and so they show nothing about the causality or acausality of absolute beginnings, of beginnings of the existence of particles, and so do not constitute an exception to the principle that whatever begins to exist has a cause.
Cordially,