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Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei Quotes

Physicist

Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist, astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher, is considered the father of modern science. He was born on February 15, 1564, and died on January 8, 1642. Galileo made significant contributions to the fields of physics, astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy. He discovered the four moons of Jupiter through his telescope, supporting Copernicus' heliocentric model, and proposed the law of free fall and other scientific theories.

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Famous Galileo Galilei Quotes

“Sì perché l'autorità dell'opinione di mille nelle scienze non val per una scintilla di ragione di un solo, sì perché le presenti osservazioni spogliano d'autorità i decreti de' passati scrittori, i quali se vedute l'avessero, avrebbono diversamente determinato. For in the sciences the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man. Besides, the modern observations deprive all former writers of any authority, since if they had seen what we see, they would have judged as we judge.”

Reason Science Opinion Authority Judgment Observation

Book:Frammenti e lettere

Source: Frammenti e lettere

“In regard to the philosophers, if they be true philosophers, i.e., lovers of truth, they should not be irritated that the earth moves. Rather, if they realize that they have held a false belief, they should thank those have shown them the truth; and if their opinion stands firm that the earth doesn't move, they will have reason to boast than be angered.”

Ifs Should Reason Earth Moving Belief Realizing Opinion Lovers Regard Philosopher Being True Firm Boast Irritated Stand Firm

Author:Galileo Galilei

“The theologians also should not be irritated. For if they find that this opinion is false, then they would be free to condemn it; and if they discover that it is true, they ought to thank those who have opened the way to finding the true sense of the Scriptures and who have prevented them from falling into the grave scandal of condemning a true proposition.”

Ifs Way Should Would Be Fall Opinion Ought Findings Scripture Graves Propositions Theologian Scandal Irritated Condemning

Author:Galileo Galilei

“I would beg the wise and learned fathers [of the church] to consider with all diligence the difference which exists between matters of mere opinion and matters of demonstration.”

Matter Father Differences Church Opinion Wise Mere Demonstration Diligence

Author:Galileo Galilei

“They who depend upon manifest observations will philosophize better than those who persist in opinions repugnant to the senses.”

Opinion Depends Senses Observation Manifest Persist

Author:Galileo Galilei

“In the sciences, the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.”

Men Reason Individual Opinion Authority Tiny Sparks

Author:Galileo Galilei

“In my studies of astronomy and philosophy I hold this opinion about the universe, that the Sun remains fixed in the centre of the circle of heavenly bodies, without changing its place; and the Earth, turning upon itself, moves round the Sun.”

Philosophy Body Earth Moving Universe Opinion Sun Study Remains Rounds Astronomy Circles Fixed Heavenly Centre Cosmology Heavenly Bodies

Author:Galileo Galilei

“I would beg the wise and learned fathers (of the church) to consider with all diligence the difference which exists between matters of mere opinion and matters of demonstration. ... [I]t is not in the power of professors of the demonstrative sciences to alter their opinions at will, so as to be now of one way of thinking and now of another. ... [D]emonstrated conclusions about things in nature of the heavens, do not admit of being altered with the same ease as opinions to what is permissible or not, under a contract, mortgage, or bill of exchange.”

“Showing a greater fondness for their own opinions than for truth, they sought to deny and disprove the new things which, if they had cared to look for themselves, their own senses would have demonstrated to them.”

Ifs Looks Opinion Greater Cold Deny Senses New Things Fondness

Author:Galileo Galilei