Nicolaus Copernicus

Therefore, we are not ashamed to maintain that the whole of the visible heavens, with the exception of the Sun, is carried around by the motion of the Earth.

For the Earth, together with its surrounding elements, is carried around in a daily rotation on its axis, while the Sun remains motionless in the center.

The universe is a sphere, and the Earth is a sphere.

The sphere is the most perfect of all figures, and this is why the universe is spherical.

It is not necessary that the hypotheses be true, or even probable, but that they should furnish a calculus which agrees with the observations.

Perhaps there will be babblers who, although completely ignorant of mathematics, nevertheless dare to pass judgment on these things, and because of some passage in Holy Scripture, twisted to their purpose, will presume to condemn and censure my project. I scorn them, as being ignorant of mathematics and of the truth.

For it is the mark of an educated mind to rest satisfied with the degree of precision which the nature of the subject admits and not to seek exactness where only an approximation is possible.

The Earth has three motions: the first is the daily rotation on its axis; the second is the annual revolution around the Sun; the third is the declination of the axis.

The planets do not move in perfect circles, but in epicycles and deferents.

The order of the planets is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.

The distance of the fixed stars is so immense that the annual motion of the Earth causes no perceptible parallax.

I have labored to show that the motion of the Earth is not absurd, but rather that it is more reasonable than the traditional view.

For it is fitting that the most perfect Workman should have made the most perfect work.

The universe is a harmonious whole, and all its parts are interconnected.

I have spent my life in the study of the heavens, and I have found nothing more beautiful than the order and harmony of the universe.

To know the order of the universe is to know the mind of God.

The Earth is not the center of the universe, but rather a planet like the others.

The apparent motion of the Sun is due to the revolution of the Earth around the Sun.

The apparent retrograde motion of the planets is due to the combined motions of the Earth and the planets.

I have sought to avoid the errors of those who have gone before me.