Tycho Brahe

Astronomy Danish 1546 – 1601 361 quotes

Most accurate naked-eye astronomical observations

Quotes by Tycho Brahe

Nor do we use the word 'hypothesis' in the sense of feigning something that is not true, but rather in the sense of a certain assumption or foundation for the demonstration of something.

De mundi aetherei recentioribus phaenomenis 1588

I have observed and studied the stars for forty years, and I have never seen anything like this. It is a new star, a nova, and it is in the constellation Cassiopeia.

De nova stella 1572

Let no one who is not a geometer enter here.

Attributed to his observatory entrance, though likely apocryphal for him specifically

To measure is to know.

General scientific principle, often attributed to him in spirit

I have made my observations with the greatest possible accuracy, and I have spared no pains or expense to achieve this end.

General statement about his work

What I have done, I have done with the help of God, and for the benefit of mankind.

General statement about his motivations

The heavens themselves are not immutable, but are subject to change and decay.

De nova stella 1572

It is not enough to observe; one must also understand what one observes.

General scientific principle

The more accurately we observe, the more certainly we know.

General scientific principle

I have devoted my life to the study of the stars, and I have found in them a source of endless wonder and delight.

Personal reflection

The truth is not to be found in books, but in the heavens themselves.

General philosophical stance

I have built my observatory not for my own glory, but for the advancement of science.

Statement about Uraniborg

The heavens are a book, and he who can read it will find in it the wisdom of God.

General philosophical stance

I have always striven for accuracy, for without it, all our efforts are in vain.

Professional observation

The path to knowledge is long and arduous, but it is a path worth treading.

Personal reflection

I have seen many wonders in my life, but none so great as the heavens above.

Personal reflection

The stars are not merely points of light, but worlds in themselves.

General scientific speculation

I have dedicated my life to the pursuit of truth, and I will not rest until I have found it.

Personal reflection

The universe is a vast and mysterious place, and we are but small creatures within it.

Philosophical reflection

I have always believed that the heavens hold the key to understanding our place in the cosmos.

Philosophical reflection