--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since Copernicus, man seems to have got…" description: "\"Since Copernicus, man seems to have got himself on an inclined plane-now he is slipping faster and faster away from the center into-what? into nothingn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/friedrich-nietzsche-15_accounts_since-copernicus-man-seems-to-have-got-h_1789922.jpg" --- # Since Copernicus, man seems to have got himself on an… ![“Since Copernicus, man seems to have got himself on an inclined plane-now he is slipping faster and faster away from the center into-what? into nothingness? into a 'penetrating sense of his nothingness?' ... all science, natural as well as unnatural-which is what I call the self-critique of…” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/friedrich-nietzsche-15_accounts_since-copernicus-man-seems-to-have-got-h_1789922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/friedrich-nietzsche-15_accounts_since-copernicus-man-seems-to-have-got-h_1789922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/friedrich-nietzsche-15_accounts_since-copernicus-man-seems-to-have-got-h_1789922.jpg) > “Since Copernicus, man seems to have got himself on an inclined plane-now he is slipping faster and faster away from the center into-what? into nothingness? into a 'penetrating sense of his nothingness?' ... all science, natural as well as unnatural-which is what I call the self-critique of knowledge-has at present the object of dissuading man from his former respect for himself, as if this had been but a piece of bizarre conceit.” [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nietzsche warns that humanity’s growing knowledge leads to existential doubt, feeling detached from meaning and confronting emptiness. **In simple terms:** Knowledge can cause existential emptiness. Key Takeaway Embrace humility in the face of uncertainty. Themes existentialism knowledge meaninglessness humility Mood thoughtful somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - personal crisis - spiritual seeking - creative writing - education Key Concepts philosophy cosmology self‑critique Questions to Reflect On - What gives life meaning beyond knowledge? - Can doubt be a catalyst for growth? A Different Perspective Over‑intellectualization may paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bizarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bizarre/) [Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) [Critique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critique/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nothingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothingness/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [“God doesn't create imitations, so He designed you naturally. It’s ungratefulness to dream of putting on unnatural self. 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But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“Every individual spends a lifetime trying to disprove Copernicus by placing him- or herself at the heart of existence, but a small core of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/every-individual-spends-a-lifetime-trying-to-disprove-copernicus-by/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) ## More by Friedrich Nietzsche > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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