“I often considered whether there could perhaps be found a more reasona...” — Nicolaus Copernicus Quote

“I often considered whether there could perhaps be found a more reasonable arrangement of circles.”

“At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun.”

“First of all, we must note that the universe is spherical.”

“For I am not so enamoured of my own opinions that I disregard what others may think of them.”

“The massive bulk of the earth does indeed shrink to insignificance in comparison with the size of the heavens.”

“To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.”

“It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure.”

“The landed classes neglected technical education, taking refuge in classical studies; as late as 1930, for example, long after Ernest Rutherford at Cambridge had discovered the atomic nucleus and begun transmuting elements, the physics laboratory at Oxford had not been wired for electricity. Intellectual neglect technical education to this day.”

“In big science, the role of the individual scientist must be carefully preserved. So is the one of original ideas and of contributions.”

“It's like how science fiction in the '50s was a way of talking about war without actually having to risk any political capital. The obvious metaphor is power and powerlessness, but I also think it's a way of experimenting with dangerous feelings in a safe arena and trying things out.”

“Science is interesting, and if you don't agree you can fuck off.”