Art Quote by Carl Sagan
““Magnetism is, of course, not the same as gravity, but Kepler’s fundamental innovation here is nothing short of breathtaking: he proposed that quantitative physical laws that apply to the Earth are also the underpinnings of quantitative physical laws that govern the heavens. It was the first nonmystical explanation of motion in the heavens; it made the Earth a province of the Cosmos. “Astronomy,” he said, “is part of physics.” Kepler stood at a cusp in history; the last scientific astrologer was the first astrophysicist. Not given to quiet understatement, Kepler assessed his discoveries in these words: With this symphony of voices man can play through the eternity of time in less than an hour, and can taste in small measure the delight of God, the Supreme Artist … I yield freely to the sacred frenzy … the die is cast, and I am writing the book—to be read either now or by posterity, it matters not. It can wait a century for a reader, as God Himself has waited 6,000 years for a witness.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Cosmos, 1980
Kepler showed that Earth’s laws apply to heavens, uniting physics and astronomy, revealing a divine artistic order.
In simple terms: Kepler linked Earth and cosmos with physics.
Recognize universal laws across realms.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- public lectures
- science communication
- personal contemplation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we teach these ideas simply?
- What inspires awe in science?
Complex math can be inaccessible to laypeople.