Nicolaus Copernicus — "The universe is a spherical whole, and of all possible forms, the sphere is the …"

"Yet because the novelty of the undertaking, which I knew to be contrary to the accepted views of the common people, might be regarded as absurd, I long hesitated."

"To attack me, some people, who know nothing of mathematics, yet dare to pass judgment on these things, on the strength of some passage of Scripture, twisted to their purpose, are now presumptuously at…"

"For it is the duty of an astronomer to gather by careful and skilled observation the history of the celestial movements, and then to investigate their causes or hypotheses about them, and then to pred…"

"Indeed, I am aware that a philosopher's thoughts are far removed from the judgment of the multitude, for his aim is to seek the truth in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God."

"To know the mighty works of God, to comprehend His wisdom and majesty and power; to appreciate, in degree, the wonderful workings of His laws, surely all this must be a pleasing and acceptable mode of…"