Gravity is a mutual affection between cognate bodies towards union or conjunction (similar in kind to the magnetic virtue), so that the earth attracts a stone much rather than the stone seeks the earth. Johannes Kepler More Quotes by Johannes Kepler More Quotes From Johannes Kepler Every corporeal substance, so far forth as it is corporeal, has a natural fitness for resting in every place where it may be situated by itself beyond the sphere of influence of a body cognate with it. Johannes Kepler sphere-of-influence substance body We do not ask what hope of gain makes a little bird warble, since we know that it takes delight in singing because it is for that very singing that the bird was made, so there is no need to ask why the human mind undertakes such toil in seeking out these secrets of the heavens. ... And just as other animals, and the human body, are sustained by food and drink, so the very spirit of Man, which is something distinct from Man, is nourished, is increased, and in a sense grows up on this diet of knowledge, and is more like the dead than the living if it is touched by no desire for these things. Johannes Kepler growing-up science knowledge Repudiating the sensible world, which he neither sees himself nor believes from those who have, the Peripatetic joins combat by childish quibbling in a world on paper, and denies the Sun shines because he himself is blind. Johannes Kepler shining believe world In theology we must consider the predominance of authority; in philosophy the predominance of reason. Johannes Kepler atheism reason philosophy Astronomy would not provide me with bread if men did not entertain hopes of reading the future in the heavens. Johannes Kepler reading men science The Earth is round, and is inhabited on all sides, is insignificantly small, and is borne through the stars. Johannes Kepler stars earth sides He who will please the crowd and for the sake of the most ephemeral renown will either proclaim those things which nature does not display or even will publish genuine miracles of nature without regard to deeper causes is a spiritually corrupt person... With the best of intentions I publicly speak to the crowd (which is eager for things new) on the subject of what is to come. Johannes Kepler crowds miracle doe ...for a long time I wanted to become a theologian... now, however, behold how through my efforts God is being debated in astronomy. Johannes Kepler astronomy effort long Discover the force of the skies O Men: once recognised it can be put to use. Johannes Kepler use sky men Without proper experiments I conclude nothing. Johannes Kepler experiments The moon... is a mass, akin to the mass of the earth, attracts the waters by a magnetic force, not because they are liquid, but because they possess earthy substance, and so share in the movements of a heavy body. Johannes Kepler substance moon water Now, as God the maker play'd he taught the game to Nature whom he created in his image; taught her the selfsame game which he played to her. Johannes Kepler games play history I also ask you my friends not to condemn me entirely to the mill of mathematical calculations, and allow me time for philosophical speculations, my only pleasures. Johannes Kepler philosophical philosophy science [Quantity is the fundamental feature of things,] the 'primarium accidens substantiae,' ...prior to the other categories. Johannes Kepler categories quantity fundamentals Geometry, which before the origin of things was coeternal with the divine mind and is God himself (for what could there be in God which would not be God himself?), supplied God with patterns for the creation of the world, and passed over to Man along with the image of God; and was not in fact taken in through the eyes. Johannes Kepler eye taken god A mind is accustomed to mathematical deduction, when confronted with the faulty foundations of astrology, resists a long, long time, like an obstinate mule, until compelled by beating and curses to put its foot into that dirty puddle. Johannes Kepler feet time dirty A most unfailing experience... of the excitement of sublunary (that is, human) natures by the conjunctions and aspects of the planets has instructed and compelled my unwilling belief. Johannes Kepler excitement astrology belief Geometry is one and eternal shining in the mind of God. That share in it accorded to men is one of the reasons that Man is the image of God. Johannes Kepler god math science The squares of the periodic times are proportional to the cubes of the mean distances from the sun. Johannes Kepler distance squares mean If the earth were not round, heavy bodies would not tend from every side in a straight line towards the center of the earth, but to different points from different sides. Johannes Kepler different body earth
