Urbain Le Verrier
He predicted the existence and location of Neptune based on perturbations in Uranus's orbit.
Most quoted
"To gaze at the night sky is to confront our own mortality, to realize the brevity of our time against the backdrop of eternity, and yet, to find a strange comfort in that vastness."
— from Observational Diaries
"Death is the ultimate unknown, yet in the grand cosmic scheme, it is but a transition, a return to the elements from which we were forged, to be scattered among the stars."
— from Private Journals
"Direct your telescope to the ecliptic in the constellation of Aquarius, at a longitude of about 326 degrees, and you will find within a degree of that place a new planet."
— from Letter to Johann Galle, 1846
All quotes by Urbain Le Verrier (375)
My confidence in the correctness of my calculations is absolute.
The planet is there, I am certain of it.
The glory of this discovery belongs to France.
I have been working on this problem for years, and now it is solved.
The heavens have revealed their secrets to me.
One must have patience and perseverance in scientific research.
The pursuit of knowledge is the noblest of endeavors.
I am driven by an insatiable curiosity about the universe.
The beauty of mathematics lies in its ability to unlock the mysteries of nature.
There is no greater joy than that of discovery.
I dedicate my life to the advancement of science.
The work is arduous, but the rewards are immense.
I have faced many challenges, but I have never given up.
The universe is a grand machine, and we are slowly learning its mechanisms.
My calculations are my compass in the vast ocean of the cosmos.
The skepticism of others only fueled my determination.
I believe in the power of reason and logic.
The pursuit of truth is a lonely path, but it is a noble one.
I am merely a servant of science, striving to illuminate the unknown.
The universe holds endless wonders for those who dare to look.
Contemporaries of Urbain Le Verrier
Other Astronomys born within 50 years of Urbain Le Verrier (1811–1877).