We regard it as a certainty that the earth, enclosed between poles, is bounded by a spherical surface. Nicolaus Copernicus More Quotes by Nicolaus Copernicus More Quotes From Nicolaus Copernicus At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun. Nicolaus Copernicus middle sun 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. Nicolaus Copernicus circles moon perfect In the midst of all dwells the sun. Nicolaus Copernicus midst sun In so many and such important ways, then, do the planets bear witness to the earth's mobility. Nicolaus Copernicus mobility important earth Yet the widespread planetary theories, advanced by Ptolemy and most other astronomers, although consistent with the numerical data, seemed likewise to present no small difficulty. For these theories were not adequate unless they also conceived certain equalizing circles, which made the planet appear to move at all times with uniform velocity neither on its deferent sphere nor about its own epicycle's center. Nicolaus Copernicus data science moving In the first book I shall describe all the positions of the spheres, along with the motions which I attribute to the Earth, so that the book will contain as it were the general structure of the universe. In the remaining books I relate the motions of the remaining stars, and all the spheres, to the mobility of the Earth, so that it can be thence established how far the motions and appearances of the remaining stars and spheres can be saved, if they are referred to the motions of the Earth. Nicolaus Copernicus stars science book I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people learn that in this book which I have written concerning the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected. Nicolaus Copernicus father book people First of all, we must note that the universe is spherical. Nicolaus Copernicus notes universe firsts 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. Nicolaus Copernicus novelty views fear If there should chance to be any mathematicians who, ignorant in mathematics yet pretending to skill in that science, should dare, upon the authority of some passage of Scripture wrested to their purpose, to condemn and censure my hypothesis, I value them not, and scorn their inconsiderate judgement. Nicolaus Copernicus ignorant judgement skills If there be some who, though ignorant of all mathematics . . . dare to reprove this work, because of some passage of Scripture, which they have miserably warped to their purpose, I regard them not, and even despise their rash judgement. Nicolaus Copernicus ignorant scripture judgement The scorn which I had reason to fear on account of the novelty and unconventionality of my opinion almost induced me to abandon completely the work which I had undertaken. . . . Astronomy is written for astronomers. To them my work too will seem, unless I am mistaken, to make some contribution. Nicolaus Copernicus astronomy novelty opinion 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. Nicolaus Copernicus fool purpose ideas 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. Nicolaus Copernicus circles body mind 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. Nicolaus Copernicus midst temples sun Therefore, having obtained the opportunity from these sources, I too began to consider the mobility of the earth. Nicolaus Copernicus mobility earth opportunity We are taught all this [the motion of the earth on its axis and around the sun] by the order of succession, in which those phenomena (various planetary happenings) follow each other, and by the harmony of the world, if we will only, as the saying goes, look at the matter with both eyes. Nicolaus Copernicus axes eye order Mathemata mathematicis scribuntur Nicolaus Copernicus mathematician mathematical mathematics The strongest affection and utmost zeal should, I think, promote the studies concerned with the most beautiful objects, most deserving to be known. Nicolaus Copernicus distance stars beautiful Accordingly, since nothing prevents the earth from moving, I suggest that we should now consider also whether several motions suit it, so that it can be regarded as one of the planets. For, it is not the center of all the revolutions. Nicolaus Copernicus suits earth moving
