Astronomy Quote by Anatole France
“We find it hard to picture to ourselves the state of mind of a man of older days who firmly believed that the Earth was the centre of the Universe, and that all the heavenly bodies revolved around it. He could feel beneath his feet the writhings of the damned amid the flames; very likely he had seen with his own eyes and smelt with his own nostrils the sulphurous fumes of Hell escaping from some fissure in the rocks. Looking upwards, he beheld ... the incorruptible firmament, wherein the stars hung like so many lamps.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gods of the Moon by Anatole France, 1901
The quote illustrates how past scientific beliefs shaped vivid, literal imaginations of cosmic order and divine punishment.
In simple terms: Old beliefs created vivid mental images of the universe and hell.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how worldview limits perception.
Themes
history
science
imagination
belief
cosmology
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
literary
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- educational lectures
- historical documentaries
- science museums
- theology debates
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Geocentrism
mythology
perception
faith
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do current beliefs shape our mental images of the cosmos?
- Can we separate emotional awe from scientific fact?
A Different Perspective
Modern scientific understanding challenges these literal visions, but emotional resonance persists.
