William Herschel
He discovered Uranus and its two moons, and pioneered the study of nebulae and star clusters.
Most quoted
"The heavens are now seen to resemble a luxuriant garden, which contains the greatest variety of productions, in different flourishing beds; and one advantage we may at least reap from it is, that we can, as it were, extend the range of our experience to an immense duration."
— from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1789
"I have looked further into space than ever human being did before me. I have observed stars of which the light, it is computed, must take two millions of years to reach the earth."
— from Letter to his sister Caroline Herschel, 1789
"The astronomer, who is acquainted with the immensity of the universe, will not easily be persuaded to believe that this little spot is the sole abode of life and intelligence."
— from Attributed saying
All quotes by William Herschel (406)
The heavens are a grand laboratory, where nature performs its experiments.
The universe is a puzzle, and we are slowly piecing it together.
The heavens are a book, and the stars are its letters.
I am never at a loss for amusement, for I have the whole universe to contemplate.
The more I examine the heavens, the more I am convinced of the existence of a supreme intelligence.
My great telescope is a truly wonderful instrument, and I am daily discovering new wonders with it.
To see is to know, and to know is to understand.
The discovery of a new planet is a truly exhilarating experience.
I have a most ardent desire to penetrate into the constitution of the heavens.
My sister Caroline is an invaluable assistant, and I could not achieve what I do without her.
The universe is an immense laboratory, and we are but humble experimenters within it.
I am determined to leave no stone unturned in my quest for knowledge of the cosmos.
The contemplation of the heavens fills me with a sense of awe and wonder.
Every new observation opens up a new vista of discovery.
My work is my life, and my life is my work.
The stars are not merely points of light, but distant suns, perhaps surrounded by their own systems of planets.
I feel as if I am standing on the shoulders of giants, looking out into the infinite.
The pursuit of knowledge is the noblest of all human endeavors.
I have built instruments that allow me to see further than anyone before me, and I am proud of that achievement.
The beauty of the night sky is an endless source of inspiration.
Contemporaries of William Herschel
Other Astronomys born within 50 years of William Herschel (1738–1822).