Nicolaus Copernicus Quotes & Sayings (Page 3)

“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.”

“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.”

“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 provides extraordinary intellectual pleasure.”

“Pouring forth its seas everywhere, then, the ocean envelops the earth and fills its deeper chasms.”

“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.”

“Therefore I would not have it unknown to Your Holiness, the the only thing which induced me to look for another way of reckoning the movements of the heavenly bodies was that I knew that mathematicians by no means agree in their investigation thereof.”

“First of all, we must note that the universe is spherical.”

“The earth also is spherical, since it presses upon its center from every direction.”

“Therefore, having obtained the opportunity from these sources, I too began to consider the mobility of the earth.”

“In so many and such important ways, then, do the planets bear witness to the earth's mobility.”