--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While most of those who hold that the…" description: "\"While most of those who hold that the whole heaven is finite say that the earth lies at the center, the philosophers of Italy, the so-called Pythagorea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/aristotle-78_accepted_while-most-of-those-who-hold-that-the-wh_3092561.png" --- # While most of those who hold that the whole heaven is… ![“While most of those who hold that the whole heaven is finite say that the earth lies at the center, the philosophers of Italy, the so-called Pythagoreans, assert the contrary. They say that in the middle there is fire, and that the earth is one of the stars, and by its circular motion round the…” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/aristotle-78_accepted_while-most-of-those-who-hold-that-the-wh_3092561.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/aristotle-78_accepted_while-most-of-those-who-hold-that-the-wh_3092561.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/179/aristotle-78_accepted_while-most-of-those-who-hold-that-the-wh_3092561.png) > “While most of those who hold that the whole heaven is finite say that the earth lies at the center, the philosophers of Italy, the so-called Pythagoreans, assert the contrary. They say that in the middle there is fire, and that the earth is one of the stars, and by its circular motion round the center produces night and day.” [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ancient philosophers argued that Earth is not central but a star among many, moving in a circular path that creates day and night. **In simple terms:** Earth is a star, not the center. Key Takeaway Accept a broader cosmic perspective. Themes cosmology philosophy science geocentrism heliocentrism Mood curious reflective thoughtful Type historical educational When to use this quote - education - science communication - philosophical discussion - museum exhibits Key Concepts astronomy metaphysics historical debate Questions to Reflect On - What does this shift tell us about scientific progress? - How do cultural beliefs shape scientific models? A Different Perspective Modern astronomy disproves the fire‑center model, showing a heliocentric system. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Rotating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rotating/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [The so-called Pythagoreans, who were the first to take up mathematics, not only advanced this subject, but saturated with it, they fancied that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-so-called-pythagoreans-who-were-the-first-to-take-up-mathematics/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Aristotle suggests that the rotating Earth was a generally accepted tenet of Pythagorism: "While most of those who hold that the whole heaven is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/aristotle-suggests-that-the-rotating-earth-was-a-generally-accepted/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The country in which I live is not my native country, that lies elsewhere, and it must always be the center of my longings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/the-country-in-which-i-live-is-not-my-native-country-that-lies/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [I see the experience of pictures as a kind of cycle, a kind of circular motion in which you're in the world, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gohlke/i-see-the-experience-of-pictures-as-a-kind-of-cycle-a-kind-of/) [Frank Gohlke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gohlke/) > [“Twirling round ‘n round - faster and faster … she dreams this circular motion will take her home, high in the heavens where hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/twirling-round-n-round-faster-and-faster-she-dreams-this-circular/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [I proceeded to take that mitten full of the deadly yellow snow crystals and rub it all into his beady little eyes with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/i-proceeded-to-take-that-mitten-full-of-the-deadly-yellow-snow/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“And now try to follow me, because I'm gonna be moving in a kind of circular motion, so if you pay attention, there will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-huang/and-now-try-to-follow-me-because-i-m-gonna-be-moving-in-a-kind-of/) [George Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-huang/) > [I made a circular motion with my finger around my temple to indicate I thought this guy was crazy, forgetting that there was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-swartzwelder/i-made-a-circular-motion-with-my-finger-around-my-temple-to-indicate/) [John Swartzwelder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-swartzwelder/) > [I shall now recall to mind that the motion of the heavenly bodies is circular, since the motion appropriate to a sphere is rotation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/i-shall-now-recall-to-mind-that-the-motion-of-the-heavenly-bodies-is/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [If the motion of the earth were circular, it would be violent and contrary to nature, and could not be eternal, since nothing violent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/if-the-motion-of-the-earth-were-circular-it-would-be-violent-and/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/people-travel-to-wonder-at-the-height-of-mountains-at-the-huge-waves-3/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The chakras or force-centers are points of connection at which energy flows from one body of a man to another...all these wheels are perpetually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-leadbeater/the-chakras-or-force-centers-are-points-of-connection-at-which-energy/) [Charles Webster Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-leadbeater/) > [Man is a little germ that lives on an unimportant rock ball that revolves about a small star at the outskirts of an ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/man-is-a-little-germ-that-lives-on-an-unimportant-rock-ball-that/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Start now to create a plan if you don't already have one, or update your present plan. 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