Nicolaus Copernicus Quotes

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.

Every light has its shadow, and every shadow hath a succeeding morning.

Of all things visible, the highest is the heaven of the fixed stars.

For I am not so enamoured of my own opinions that I disregard what others may think of them.

The Universe, wrought for us by a supremely good and orderly Creator.

Nations are not ruined by one act of violence, but gradually and in an almost imperceptible manner by the depreciation of their circulating currency, through its excessive quantity.

Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe.

Those things which I am saying now may be obscure, yet they will be made clearer in their proper place.

The massive bulk of the earth does indeed shrink to insignificance in comparison with the size of the heavens.

Mathematics is written for mathematicians.

I am aware that a philosopher's ideas are not subject to the judgment of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavour to seek the truth in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God.

Moreover, since the sun remains stationary, whatever appears as a motion of the sun is really due rather to the motion of the earth.

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.

At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun.

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

For what could be more beautiful than the heavens which contain all beautiful things.

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.

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

In the midst of all dwells the sun.

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.

In the midst of all dwells the Sun. For who could set this luminary in another or better place in this most glorious temple, than whence he can at one and the same time brighten the whole.

For it is the duty of an astronomer to compose the history of the celestial motions through careful and expert study.

We regard it as a certainty that the earth, enclosed between poles, is bounded by a spherical surface.

Mathemata mathematicis scribuntur Mathematics is written for mathematicians De Revolutionibus

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

Astronomy is written for astronomers

For a traveler going from any place toward the north, that pole of the daily rotation gradually climbs higher, while the opposite pole drops down an equal amount.

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

The strongest affection and utmost zeal should, I think, promote the studies concerned with the most beautiful objects, most deserving to be known.

More stars in the north are seen not to set, while in the south certain stars are no longer seen to rise.