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.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I have lived, and I have sinned.

1601 — His dying words, as reported by his contemporaries.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

late 16th century — A theological and astronomical statement.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

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

Without observations, no science.

late 16th century — A concise statement emphasizing the importance of empirical data.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual 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…
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

late 16th century — Balancing his social status with his intellectual pursuits.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

late 16th century — A statement of intellectual humility.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual 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.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable