Edmond Halley
He calculated the orbit of the comet that now bears his name, demonstrating the periodic nature of comets.
Most quoted
"Death, like the setting sun, is but a transition, a return to the cosmic dust from which we emerged, yet the light of our understanding can illuminate the path for those who follow."
— from Letters and scientific papers
"To understand the ebb and flow of the tides, the predictable return of a comet, is to touch upon the eternal rhythm of the universe, a comforting constant in a changing world."
— from Letters and scientific papers
"The contemplation of the heavens and the order of the universe cannot but fill the mind with a sense of the infinite and the eternal, humbling yet elevating the human spirit."
— from Letters and scientific papers
All quotes by Edmond Halley (375)
I have no doubt that the world will end, but I doubt it will be by a comet.
It is a common error to imagine that we are wise because we are old.
The only thing worse than a bad prediction is a good prediction that no one believes.
I have often observed that the most ignorant are the most confident.
To predict the future is to invite ridicule, but to not predict it is to invite oblivion.
The heavens declare the glory of God, but they also declare the folly of man.
I find that the more I study the stars, the less I understand humanity.
It is a peculiar characteristic of mankind that they are more interested in the end of the world than in how to live in it.
My only regret is that I shall not live to see the return of my comet, though I trust others will.
Some men are so eager to prove others wrong that they forget to be right themselves.
The universe is full of wonders, but none so wondrous as the human capacity for self-deception.
I have often found that the most profound truths are met with the most profound skepticism.
It is a grand thing to predict a comet, but a grander thing to be believed.
The only thing more difficult than understanding the heavens is understanding the minds of men.
I have no patience for those who prefer superstition to observation.
It is a curious fact that the more evidence one presents, the more resistant some minds become.
My work is to observe and calculate, not to soothe the fears of the ignorant.
The greatest discoveries are often met with the greatest resistance.
One might say that the universe has a peculiar sense of humor, presenting us with such grand spectacles and then expecting us to understand them.
I have found that the most effective way to silence a critic is to be undeniably correct.