Portrait of Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei

Father of modern observational astronomy

Early Modern influential 81 sayings

Sayings by Galileo Galilei

Who would set a limit to the mind of man? Who would dare assert that we know all there is to be known?

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Educational Confirmed

I give infinite thanks to God, who has been pleased to make me the first observer of admirable things unrevealed to bygone ages.

1610 — Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger)
Wisdom Unverifiable

To deny the principles of philosophy is to reject reason itself.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Nature & World Confirmed

It is not in the power of any created being to make things true or false, but only to make us think them so.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

Eppur si muove! (And yet it moves!)

1633 (approx) — Apocryphal, said to have been muttered after recanting his heliocentric views during his trial.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Aristotle was indeed a great man, and his writings are excellent; but he was a man, and not a god.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Biblical Unverifiable

The deeper I go into the sciences, the more I am convinced that the world is the work of an all-wise Creator.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Educational Unverifiable

The book of nature is written in the language of mathematics.

1623 — Il Saggiatore (The Assayer)
Educational Unverifiable

I hold the sun to be situated motionless in the center of the revolution of the celestial orbs while the earth revolves around the sun.

1613 — Letter to Benedetto Castelli
Political Unverifiable

It is a beautiful and admirable thing to search out the causes of natural phenomena.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

With the telescope, I have discovered many things that contradict the ideas of ancient philosophers.

1610 — Refers to discoveries published in Sidereus Nuncius.
Educational Unverifiable

Facts which at first seem improbable will, even on scant explanation, drop the cloak which has hidden them and stand forth in naked and simple beauty.

1638 — Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I do not believe that the same God who has given us senses, reason and intellect would have us abandon their use.

1615 — Letter to Christina of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany
Biblical Unverifiable

What is important is to understand the language of nature, not to impose on it our own prejudices.

Uncertain — Paraphrase of his general scientific approach, not a direct quote.
Nature & World Unverifiable

I wish to persuade the wise and not to compel them.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The senses, being the interpreters of natural effects, are the only door to scientific knowledge.

1638 — Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences
Educational Unverifiable

It is a great pity that there are so few who are interested in the true causes of things.

Uncertain — Uncertain, widely attributed.
Wisdom Unverifiable

I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

Uncertain — Often attributed, but not found in his known writings. Likely a modern misattribution.
Wisdom Unverifiable
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