Portrait of Tycho Brahe

Tycho Brahe

Astronomical observations

Early Modern influential 104 sayings

Sayings by Tycho Brahe

It is not the eye that sees the light, but the mind that sees the light through the eye.

1570s-1600s — From his astronomical writings, reflecting his philosophical views on perception.
Wisdom Unverifiable

I have not found it good to be without a beard, for it gives a certain gravity to the countenance.

late 16th century — A personal observation, likely from a letter or anecdote.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Let no one who is not a geometer enter here.

late 16th century — A phrase attributed to him, reflecting his emphasis on mathematical rigor.
Wisdom Unverifiable

He who studies the stars does not fear the darkness.

late 16th century — A philosophical statement, often attributed to him, reflecting his dedication to astronomy.
Life & Death Unverifiable

The stars are not just lights in the sky, they are the writing of God.

late 16th century — A reflection on the religious dimension of his astronomical work.
Biblical Unverifiable

I have lived, and I have sinned.

1601 — His dying words, as reported by his contemporaries.
Wisdom Unverifiable

What is the use of knowing the movements of the stars if we do not know the movements of men?

late 16th century — A philosophical question, suggesting a broader intellectual curiosity beyond pure astronomy.
Wisdom Unverifiable

I consider it a duty to spend my life in this noble pursuit.

late 16th century — Referring to his astronomical observations and scientific endeavors.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The heavens themselves are a book in which God has written his glory.

late 16th century — A theological and astronomical statement.
Biblical Unverifiable

Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.

late 16th century — A statement emphasizing empirical observation over traditional dogma, often attributed to him.
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

I have worn a golden nose for twenty-one years.

around 1598 — A direct reference to his prosthetic nose, lost in a duel.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The proper study of mankind is the proper study of the heavens.

late 16th century — A twist on a common saying, highlighting his focus on astronomy.
Biblical Unverifiable

I have been so long accustomed to the sight of the stars that I know them as I know my own cattle.

late 16th century — An anecdote highlighting his extensive observational experience.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Without observations, no science.

late 16th century — A concise statement emphasizing the importance of empirical data.
Educational Unverifiable

I prefer the company of my instruments to that of men.

late 16th century — Reflecting his dedication to his scientific work and perhaps a solitary nature.
Wisdom Unverifiable

The heavens are not immutable, as Aristotle believed.

1570s — A challenge to established Aristotelian cosmology, based on his observations of the supernova of 157…
Biblical Unverifiable

I am a nobleman, but I am also a servant of science.

late 16th century — Balancing his social status with his intellectual pursuits.
Educational Unverifiable

The more I observe, the more I realize how little I know.

late 16th century — A statement of intellectual humility.
Wisdom Unverifiable

God's wisdom is displayed in the order of the cosmos.

late 16th century — A common theological view of the time, applied to his astronomical work.
Wisdom Unverifiable

I have spent my life measuring the heavens, that others might understand them.

late 16th century — Reflecting his dedication to precise measurement and data collection.
Biblical Unverifiable
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