Nicolaus Copernicus | Mathematician | famous quotes | motivational quotes

Of all things visible, the highest is the heaven, of the fixed stars. To know that, we know what, we know, and to know that, we do not know, what we do not know, that is true, knowledge. For I am not so enamored, of my own opinions, that I disregard, what others may, think of them. Those things, which I am saying now, may be obscure, yet, they will be made clearer, in their proper place. Moreover, since the sun remains stationary, whatever appears, as a motion of the sun, is really due, rather to the motion, of the earth. So, influenced by these advisors, and this hope, I have at length allowed, my friends to publish the work, as they had long besought me, to do. The massive bulk, of the earth, does indeed shrink, to insignificance in comparison with, the size of the heavens. So far, as hypotheses are concerned, let no one expect anything, certain from astronomy, which cannot furnish it, lest he accept as the truth, ideas conceived for another purpose, and depart from this study, a greater fool than, when he entered it. The earth together with, its surrounding waters, must in fact, have such a shape as its shadow reveals, for it eclipses the moon, with the arc of a perfect circle. For it is the duty, of an astronomer, to compose the history of the celestial motions, through careful, and expert study. In so many, and such important ways, then, do the planets bear, witness to the earth's mobility. I shall now recall to mind, that the motion of the heavenly bodies, is circular, since the motion appropriate to a sphere, is rotation in a circle. Therefore, when I considered this carefully, the contempt which I had to fear, because of the novelty, and apparent absurdity of my view, nearly induced me, to abandon utterly the work, I had begun. Yet, if anyone believes, that the earth rotates, surely, he will hold that, its motion is natural, not violent. Pouring forth, its seas everywhere, then, the ocean envelops the earth, and fills its deeper chasms. More stars in the north, are seen not to set, while in the south, certain stars are no longer seen, to rise. Therefore, having obtained the opportunity, from these sources, I too, began to consider the mobility, of the earth. Although, all the good arts, serve to draw man's mind, away from vices, and lead it toward better things, this function can be more fully performed, by this art, which also