Nicholas Copernicus was an astronomer, physicist, and mathematician of Polish-Prussian origin. He was a leading figure of the Renaissance period, after proposing his heliocentric theory, which states that both the Earth and the other planets actually revolve around the sun. Sol. Leading him to be part of the so-called 'Scientific Revolution'.
Best quotes from Copernicus
Despite not being fully accepted by other scientists or by the church, he continued his work until the end of his days. For this reason, we bring you a compilation with the best quotes and reflections of Nicolás Copernicus.
one. Every light has its shadow, and every shadow has a morning after.
Light always finds its way.
2. Because I'm not so enamored of my own opinions that I ignore what others may think of them.
Having an open mind allows us to learn things from other people.
3. Nations are not ruined by a single act of violence, but gradually and almost imperceptibly by the depreciation of their circulating currency, due to its excessive amount.
His opinion for which nations lose their glory.
4. Nature never does anything superfluous, nothing useless, and knows how to get multiple effects from a single cause.
Nature is very wise, we just can't listen to it completely.
5. First, we must know that the universe is spherical.
The way he perceived the universe in his theory.
6. As if seated on a royal throne, the Sun governs the family of planets that revolve around it.
A poetic way of stating the theory that the planets revolve around the Sun.
7. The movement of the Earth alone is enough to explain so many apparent inequalities in the heavens.
Trying to explain the meaning of his heliocentric theory
8. Furthermore, since the sun remains stationary, what appears as the movement of the sun is actually due to the movement of the earth.
In his time, it was believed that the Sun revolved around the earth
9. That no one expects anything certain from astronomy, since it offers us nothing certain.
Any type of science is changing, because every day we discover something new.
10. The Universe is created by an extremely good and orderly Creator.
Despite being a scientist, he never lost faith in him
eleven. The sky of the fixed stars is the highest of what is visible.
Proposing that what was seen in the distance was the universe.
12. Now I will remember that the movement of celestial bodies is circular, since the proper movement for a sphere is rotation in a circle.
he was the first to propose the circular motion of the Earth
13. Among authorities, it is generally agreed that the Earth is at rest in the middle of the universe, and they consider it inconceivable and even ridiculous to hold the opposite view.
The unique and scientific opinion of his time, on the movement of the planet
14. I am aware that the ideas of a philosopher are not subject to the judgment of ordinary people, because his effort is to seek the truth in all things, to the extent that human reason permits God.
Bearing in mind that no opinion is absolute.
fifteen. To know the mighty works of God, to comprehend his wisdom, majesty, and power; to appreciate, in degree, the marvelous working of his laws.
She always kept his religious beliefs in mind as part of his scientific explanation
16. It necessarily follows that the equinoxes and solstices seem to anticipate his timing.
The seasons and equinoxes are also the work of the movement of our planet.
17. Consequently, since nothing prevents the earth from moving, I suggest that we now also consider whether several movements suit it, so that it can be considered as one of the planets.
Before it was believed that the Earth was unique and supreme in the universe.
18. The strongest affection and the greatest zeal should, I believe, promote studies that refer to the most beautiful objects.
The study should lead us to have motivation to investigate.
19. Because what could be more beautiful than the skies that contain all beautiful things.
An astronomer loves the mysteries hidden in the heavens.
twenty. The things I am saying now may be obscure, but they will become clear where they belong.
Copernicus knew that his proposals were risky and would not be adequately received
twenty-one. Nor do these hypotheses need to be true or even likely, but it is sufficient if they simply produce estimates that agree with observations.
That's why research exists, to confirm or deny hypotheses.
22. All this is suggested by the system of procession of events and the harmony of the entire Universe, if we only face the facts, as they say, with our eyes wide open.
Things in the universe have a natural order.
23. In so many important ways, then, the planets bear witness to the mobility of the earth.
Posing that the Earth was the same as the rest of the planets.
"24. Trismegistus calls him a visible God; Sophocles&39; Electra, that which contemplates all things. And so the sun, as if resting on a royal throne, governs the family of stars that revolve around it."
Talking about how different figures have described the Sun.
25. This is the discipline that deals with the divine revolutions of the universe, the movements of the stars, their sizes, their distances, their rising and setting…
A way of describing astronomy.
26. It is not the center of all revolutions.
Debunking the leading role of our world in the universe.
27. The enormous mass of the earth dwindles in effect to insignificance compared to the size of the heavens.
Suggesting that, the universe is actually much vaster than the size of our world.
28. Surely all this must be a form of worship pleasing and acceptable to the Most High, for whom ignorance cannot be more grateful than knowledge.
Trying to match his discoveries with the power of God
29. Contempt for the novelty and unconventionality of my opinion almost led me to abandon the work I had undertaken altogether.
The unknown is scary and can tempt us to give up on something we want to do.
30. For every apparent change with respect to position is due to motion of the observed object, or of the observer, or even an unequal change of both.
All changes that occur on the planet, such as weather or stars, are due to its rotation.
31. Arithmetic, geometry, optics, geodesy, mechanics, and any other, are offered at your service.
About the other sciences that work together with astronomy.
32. For a traveler going north from anywhere, the pole of the daily rotation gradually rises higher, while the opposite pole falls an equal amount.
Talking about how travelers can observe the consequences of the movement of the planet.
33. The equatorial circle moves westward, at an angle to the ecliptic plane in proportion to the declination of the axis of the globe.
Talking about the role of the equator in the world.
3. 4. The fact that none of these phenomena appear in the fixed stars shows their immense elevation, making even the circle of their annual motion or apparent motion disappear from our eyes.
Explaining why we cannot feel the movement of the planet.
35. If, by abandoning this discipline, someone takes for true what was made for another use, they will end up crazier than when they got involved in it.
Not everyone uses knowledge appropriately.
36. The earth together with its surrounding waters must, in fact, have such a shape as its shadow reveals, since it eclipses the moon with the arc of a perfect circle.
Proposing that the Earth is round.
37. Mathematics is written for mathematicians.
A very complex language that not everyone understands.
38. The ocean envelops the Earth and fills the deepest abysses of it.
The ocean is part of the life of the world.
39. Any movement that appears in the firmament does not arise from any movement of the firmament, but from the movement of the earth.
All movements observed in the sky are caused by the rotation of the planet.
40. If by chance there are charlatans who, even though they are ignorant of all mathematics... dare to reject and attack this structuring of mine, I do not pay any attention to them, to the point that I will condemn their judgment as reckless.
It is better to ignore the opinions of those who don't know you at all.
41. Knowing that we know what we know, and knowing that we don't know what we don't know, that is true knowledge.
It's being proud of what you know, but being humble with what you don't know.
42. Finally we will place the Sun itself at the center of the Universe.
The place it should always have.
43. The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and the center of the Earth, are not completely the same.
Even the movements of the Earth are different from each other.
44. In the middle of everything is the Sun. Well, who in this beautiful temple would put this lamp in another better place, from which everything could be illuminated?
Flattering the role of the Sun, who offers us light and heat.
Four. Five. It is appropriate for an astronomer to establish a record of the movements of the heavens by diligent and skillful observations, and then think up and construct laws for them.
The duty that is part of every astronomer's life.
46. And so the sun, as if resting on a royal throne, governs the family of stars that revolve around it.
Placing the Sun as the king of the planets that revolve around it.
47. The true laws cannot be reached by the use of reason; and from those assumptions, motions can be calculated correctly, both for the future and for the past.
Laws must be made for the benefit of all people.
48. What is more beautiful than the sky?
To an astronomer, it is the center of all beauty.
49. The movement of the earth can undoubtedly produce the impression that the entire universe is spinning.
An error of perception.
fifty. Because it is the duty of an astronomer to compose the history of celestial movements through careful and expert study.
Everything must be based on true facts.
51. In the first book I will describe all the positions of the spheres, together with the movements that I attribute to the Earth, so that the book contains, as it were, the general structure of the universe.
The way he begins to explain his theory
52. Thus, if the value of the arts were measured by the subject matter with which they deal, this art—called astronomy by some, astrology by others, and by many of the ancients the consummation of mathematics—would be by far the foremost.
Proud of the subject you chose to pursue.
53. Close to the sun is the center of the universe.
We now know that the universe is bigger than we can imagine.
54. I can easily conceive, Most Holy Father, that as soon as some people find out that in this book that I have written on the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, I attribute certain movements to the Earth, they will immediately exclaim that I and my theory must be rejected.
Preparing for rejection of your theory for being different.
55. I hold that completely erroneous views should be avoided.
It is okay to doubt or ask questions, but never to affirm something that is wrong.
56. It is seen that more stars in the north do not set, while in the south certain stars are no longer seen to rise.
The movement of the stars has aided various discoveries in science.
57. Astronomy is written for astronomers. To them my work will also appear, unless I am mistaken, to make some contribution.
I knew that your contributions would be more valuable in the future.
58. In the remaining books I relate the movements of the remaining stars, and of all the spheres, with the mobility of the Earth.
On how you would explain his heliocentric theory in his books
59. So, influenced by these advisers and this hope, I finally allowed my friends to publish the work, as they had pleaded with me for a long time.
What prompted him to publish his theory.
60. Not a few other very eminent and learned men made the same request, urging me no longer to refuse for fear of handing over my work for the common benefit of Mathematics students.
Although initially rejected, he was later encouraged to publish his studies.
61. But rather we should follow the wisdom of nature.
If we want to understand the environment, we just have to listen and understand it.
62. I took it upon myself to reread the books of all the philosophers I could get my hands on, to find out if any had ever conjectured that the motions of the spheres of the universe were different from those supposed by those who taught mathematics in schools.
Looking for the pillars of him to support his own research
63. However, if someone believes that the earth rotates, they will surely maintain that its movement is natural, not violent.
The planet rotates so subtly that we are not able to appreciate it.
64. This art, which is like the head of all the liberal arts and the most worthy of a free man, is supported by almost all other branches of mathematics.
Mathematics is the basis of almost all sciences.
65. It is the duty of an astronomer to compose the history of celestial motions through careful and expert study.
Talking about the goal of every astronomer.
66. I do not want Your Holiness to be unaware that the only thing that led me to look for another way of calculating the movements of celestial bodies was that I knew that mathematicians do not agree at all in their research.
Clarifying that his motivation was also personal and spiritual
67. Not only did the phenomena of others follow from this, but it also so united the order and magnitude of all the planets and spheres and the sky itself, that nowhere could a single thing be altered without confusion among the others. parts and in the whole universe.
Talking about the fact that not only the Earth revolves around the Sun, but also the rest of the planets.
68. Also, why Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, when they rise in the evening, appear larger than when they disappear and reappear with the sun.
His inspiration for him to propose heliocentrism, was the change in size of the planets at different times of the day
69. Since different hypotheses are sometimes available to explain the same movement... an astronomer will prefer to take advantage of the one that is easiest to understand.
Every scientific explanation should be easy to explain.
70. Therefore, when I had long considered this uncertainty of traditional mathematics, it began to bore me that there was no more definite explanation of the motion of the world-machine established on our behalf by the best and most systematic builder of all.
When we are not satisfied with something, it is best to go our own way.