--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surely it is a great thing to increase…" description: "\"Surely it is a great thing to increase the numerous host of fixed stars previously visible to the unaided vision, adding countless more which have neve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/galileo-galilei-2377_astronomy_surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-t_1306830.png" --- # Surely it is a great thing to increase the numerous host… ![“Surely it is a great thing to increase the numerous host of fixed stars previously visible to the unaided vision, adding countless more which have never before been seen, exposing these plainly to the eye in numbers ten times exceeding the old and familiar stars.” quote by Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/galileo-galilei-2377_astronomy_surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-t_1306830.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/galileo-galilei-2377_astronomy_surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-t_1306830.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/galileo-galilei-2377_astronomy_surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-t_1306830.png) > “Surely it is a great thing to increase the numerous host of fixed stars previously visible to the unaided vision, adding countless more which have never before been seen, exposing these plainly to the eye in numbers ten times exceeding the old and familiar stars.” [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advancements in telescopic observation reveal vastly more stars, expanding humanity's understanding of the cosmos. **In simple terms:** New stars show a larger universe. Key Takeaway Embrace scientific discovery to broaden perspective. Themes science exploration humility curiosity Mood wonderful thoughtful Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - education - policy making - public outreach - research planning Key Concepts Astronomy epistemology technology Questions to Reflect On - How does expanding knowledge affect worldview? - What responsibilities come with scientific breakthroughs? A Different Perspective New findings can challenge existing beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Countless Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countless-seen-4310090/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar/) [Familiar Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar-stars-4310092/) [Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed/) [Fixed Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed-stars-1362455/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Host](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/host/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Increase Numerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase-numerous-4310091/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Numerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numerous/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [The number of fixed stars which observers have been able to see without artificial powers of sight up to this day can be counted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/the-number-of-fixed-stars-which-observers-have-been-able-to-see/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Of all things visible, the highest is the heaven of the fixed stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/of-all-things-visible-the-highest-is-the-heaven-of-the-fixed-stars/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [Authors may be divided into falling stars, planets, and fixed stars: the first have a momentary effect; the second have a much longer duration;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/authors-may-be-divided-into-falling-stars-planets-and-fixed-stars-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Authors can be divided into meteors, planets and fixed stars. The meteors produce a loud momentary effect; we look up, shout 'see there!' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/authors-can-be-divided-into-meteors-planets-and-fixed-stars-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Love is like light and there are two kinds, the bursting fireworks of the moment and the solid, fixed stars that sometimes become obscured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rinaldi/love-is-like-light-and-there-are-two-kinds-the-bursting-fireworks-of/) [Ann Rinaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rinaldi/) > [Writers may be classified as meteors, planets, and fixed stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/writers-may-be-classified-as-meteors-planets-and-fixed-stars/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/this-most-beautiful-system-of-the-sun-planets-and-comets-could-only-2/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [“It was all I ever really wanted, that revelation. The possibility of fixed stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/it-was-all-i-ever-really-wanted-that-revelation-the-possibility-of/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“...your soul can never be long going to the fixed stars, where I intend to settle; or else you may find me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelahan/your-soul-can-never-be-long-going-to-the-fixed-stars-where-i-intend/) [Michael Kelahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelahan/) > [If parents are the fixed stars in the child's universe, the vaguely understood, distant but constant celestial spheres, siblings are the dazzling, sometimes scorching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/if-parents-are-the-fixed-stars-in-the-child-s-universe-the-vaguely/) [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) > [The fixed stars signify the angel in man. That is why man orients himself by them; and that is why women have no appreciation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/the-fixed-stars-signify-the-angel-in-man-that-is-why-man-orients/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [It's all I ever really wanted, that revelation. The possibility of fixed stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/it-s-all-i-ever-really-wanted-that-revelation-the-possibility-of/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“Writers may be classified as meteors, planets, and fixed stars. They belong not to one system, one nation only, but to the universe. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/writers-may-be-classified-as-meteors-planets-and-fixed-stars-they/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Surrounded by all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing a sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/surrounded-by-all-the-members-of-my-dear-family-enjoying-the/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [While most individuals use the flesh of the coconut in their cooking, coconut water and oil are also known to have numerous health benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/while-most-individuals-use-the-flesh-of-the-coconut-in-their-cooking/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) ## More by Galileo Galilei > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [If experiments are performed thousands of times at all seasons and in every place without once producing the effects mentioned by your philosophers, poets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/if-experiments-are-performed-thousands-of-times-at-all-seasons-and-in/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [“(T)he increase of known truths stimulates the investigation, establishment, and growth of the arts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/t-he-increase-of-known-truths-stimulates-the-investigation/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [In the long run my observations have convinced me that some men, reasoning preposterously, first establish some conclusion in their minds which, either because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/in-the-long-run-my-observations-have-convinced-me-that-some-men/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Nature . . . is inexorable and immutable; she never transgresses the laws imposed upon her, nor cares a whit whether her abstruse reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/nature-is-inexorable-and-immutable-she-never-transgresses-the-laws/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Holy Writ was intended to teach men how to go to Heaven not how the heavens go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/holy-writ-was-intended-to-teach-men-how-to-go-to-heaven-not-how-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [And who can doubt that it will lead to the worst disorders when minds created free by God are compelled to submit slavishly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/and-who-can-doubt-that-it-will-lead-to-the-worst-disorders-when-minds/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [ Among the great men who have philosophized about \[the action of the tides\], the one who surprised me most is Kepler. He was a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/among-the-great-men-who-have-philosophized-about-the-action-of-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Infinities and indivisibles transcend our finite understanding, the former on account of their magnitude, the latter because of their smallness; Imagine what they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/infinities-and-indivisibles-transcend-our-finite-understanding-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect has intended us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-do-not-feel-obliged-to-believe-that-the-same-god-who-has-endowed-us/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [What ever the course of our lives, we should recieve them as the highest gift from the hand of God, in which equally reposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/what-ever-the-course-of-our-lives-we-should-recieve-them-as-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [I cannot but be astonished that Sarsi should persist in trying to prove by means of witnesses something that I may see for myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-cannot-but-be-astonished-that-sarsi-should-persist-in-trying-to/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [I would say here something that was heard from an ecclesiastic of the most eminent degree: The intention of the Holy Spirit is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-would-say-here-something-that-was-heard-from-an-ecclesiastic-of-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Some, merely to contradict what I had said, did not scruple to cast doubt upon things they had seen with their own eyes again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/some-merely-to-contradict-what-i-had-said-did-not-scruple-to-cast/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/by-denying-scientific-principles-one-may-maintain-any-paradox/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) [Explore all 166 Galileo Galilei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) ## More Astronomy quotes > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Wen daylight turns to a darkened hue, D lovely stars hinting at u, ur heart beat tells u something true, That some 1 badly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/wen-daylight-turns-to-a-darkened-hue-d-lovely-stars-hinting-at-u-ur/) [Butterfly\_Kisses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butterfly-kisses/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [From the grasses in the field to the stars in the sky, each one is doing just that; and there is such profound peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/from-the-grasses-in-the-field-to-the-stars-in-the-sky-each-one-is/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [“If there are no stars on the sky, you must try to be happy with the shining streetlights!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-there-are-no-stars-on-the-sky-you-must-try-to-be-happy-with-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) [Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." ... quote has been credited to Les Brown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylviek/shoot-for-the-moon-even-if-you-miss-it-you-will-land-among-the-stars/) [Sylviek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylviek/) > [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 6,190 Astronomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Surely it is a great thing to increase the numerous host of fixed stars previously visible to the unaided vision, adding countless more which have never before been seen, exposing these plainly to the eye in numbers ten times exceeding the old and familiar stars.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Galileo Galilei" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-the-numerous-host-of-fixed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Astronomy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-the-numerous-host-of-fixed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/galileo-galilei-2377_astronomy_surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-t_1306830.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/galileo-galilei-2377_astronomy_surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-t_1306830.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/431/galileo-galilei-2377_astronomy_surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-t_1306830.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Surely it is a great thing to increase the numerous host of fixed stars previously visible to the unaided…” — Galileo Galilei", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Galileo Galilei", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Surely it is a great thing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-the-numerous-host-of-fixed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-it-is-a-great-thing-to-increase-the-numerous-host-of-fixed/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```