Johannes Kepler Quotes

I used to measure the heavens, now I measure the shadows of Earth. Although my mind was heaven-bound, the shadow of my body lies here.

There is a force in the earth which causes the moon to move.

In Terra inest virtus, quae Lunam del.

The die is cast; I have written my book; it will be read either in the present age or by posterity, it matters not which; it may well await a reader, since God has waited six thousand years for an interpreter of his words.

My goal is to show that the heavenly machine is not a kind of divine living being but similar to a clockwork insofar as all the manifold motions are taken care of by one single absolutely simple magnetic bodily force, as in a clockwork all motion is taken care of by a simple weight. And indeed I also show how this physical representation can be presented by calculation and geometrically.

We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for singing. Similarly, we ought not to ask why the human mind troubles to fathom the secrets of the heavens… The diversity of the phenomena of Nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the heavens so rich, precisely in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.

Advertencia para idiotas. Pero a todo aquel que sea demasiado estúpido para comprender la ciencia astronómica, o demasiado pusilánime para creer a Copérnico sin que afecte a su fe, le aconsejaría que, una vez renunciado a los estudios astronómicos, y tras haber condenado todos aquellos estudios filosóficos que le plazca, se preocupe de sus asuntos y se vaya a su casa a escarbar su terruño

Nu ne întrebăm în ce scop util cântă păsările, cântecul este bucuria lor de când au fost zămislite pentru cântat. La fel, n-ar trebui să ne întrebăm de ce spiritul omului se străduieşte să pătrundă secretele cerurilor. Diversitatea fenomenelor naturii e atât de mare, iar comorile ascunse în ceruri atât de bogate, tocmai pentru ca spiritul omului să nu fie nicicând lipsit de hrană proaspătă.