--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Long ago it took a Copernicus to tell a…" description: "\"“Long ago it took a Copernicus to tell a provincial world that this planet was not the center of the universe. Some selfish moderns need a Copernican r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/neal-a-maxwell-925_center-of-the-univer_long-ago-it-took-a-copernicus-to-tell-a_3164966.png" --- # Long ago it took a Copernicus to tell a provincial world… ![“Long ago it took a Copernicus to tell a provincial world that this planet was not the center of the universe. Some selfish moderns need a Copernican reminder that they are not the center of the universe either!” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/neal-a-maxwell-925_center-of-the-univer_long-ago-it-took-a-copernicus-to-tell-a_3164966.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/neal-a-maxwell-925_center-of-the-univer_long-ago-it-took-a-copernicus-to-tell-a_3164966.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/neal-a-maxwell-925_center-of-the-univer_long-ago-it-took-a-copernicus-to-tell-a_3164966.png) > ““Long ago it took a Copernicus to tell a provincial world that this planet was not the center of the universe. Some selfish moderns need a Copernican reminder that they are not the center of the universe either!”” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reminds us that humanity is not the universe’s center; we need humility to recognize our modest place. **In simple terms:** We are not the center of everything. Key Takeaway Practice humility daily. Themes humility perspective science Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - education - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts cosmic perspective ego self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can humility improve relationships? - What challenges arise when ego dominates? A Different Perspective Humility may be seen as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Center of the universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-of-the-universe/) [Copernican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copernican-1810112/) [Copernican Reminder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copernican-reminder-5737504/) [Copernicus Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copernicus-tell-5737505/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Need Copernican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-copernican-5737506/) [Universe Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-selfish-5737507/) ## Related quotes > [The Copernican revolution was actually a contribution to the life of the church, the development of our view of ourselves in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/the-copernican-revolution-was-actually-a-contribution-to-the-life-of/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [She has to lose her pre-Copernican view of a universe revolving around herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/she-has-to-lose-her-pre-copernican-view-of-a-universe-revolving/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [The Relativity theory, the copernican upheaval, or any great scientific convulsion, leaves a new landscape. There is a period of stunned dreariness; then people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/the-relativity-theory-the-copernican-upheaval-or-any-great-scientific/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [“I esteem myself happy to have as great an ally as you in my search for truth. I will read your work ... all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-esteem-myself-happy-to-have-as-great-an-ally-as-you-in-my-search/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [In the time of Galileo it was argued that the texts, 'And the sun stood still ... and hasted not to go down about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-turing/in-the-time-of-galileo-it-was-argued-that-the-texts-and-the-sun-stood/) [Alan Turing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-turing/) > [There are lots of ideas which extend the Copernican principle one step further. We went from the solar system to the galaxy to zillions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/there-are-lots-of-ideas-which-extend-the-copernican-principle-one/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [“Copernicus theorized that the Earth revolved around the sun, but it was not until he lay on his deathbed that he published anything regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dunn/copernicus-theorized-that-the-earth-revolved-around-the-sun-but-it/) [Rob Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dunn/) > [ “\[Patty's\] Copernican wish to the be sun around which all things revolved” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/patty-s-copernican-wish-to-the-be-sun-around-which-all-things-revolved/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [For seventeenth-century astronomers, the Epicurean doctrine of multiple worlds separated by void space was seen to fit with the new Copernican system in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/for-seventeenth-century-astronomers-the-epicurean-doctrine-of/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [“if I wanted to be the center of the universe I’d have a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/if-i-wanted-to-be-the-center-of-the-universe-i-d-have-a-dog/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I am not the center of the universe. And it's a lesson that I keep having to learn; it's my ongoing work, I'd say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fabian/i-am-not-the-center-of-the-universe-and-it-s-a-lesson-that-i-keep/) [Patrick Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fabian/) > [Hence I feel no shame in asserting that this whole region engirdled by the moon, and the center of the earth, traverse this grand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/hence-i-feel-no-shame-in-asserting-that-this-whole-region-engirdled/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [One of the things that was kind of shocking for humans... was to come to terms with was the fact that, hey, we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/one-of-the-things-that-was-kind-of-shocking-for-humans-was-to-come-to/) [Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/) > [Gregory Hines was the most talented man I've ever met or seen. Gregory Hines is one of those people that whenever he talked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/gregory-hines-was-the-most-talented-man-i-ve-ever-met-or-seen-gregory/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Center of the universe quotes > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Gregory Hines was the most talented man I've ever met or seen. Gregory Hines is one of those people that whenever he talked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/gregory-hines-was-the-most-talented-man-i-ve-ever-met-or-seen-gregory/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [One of the things that was kind of shocking for humans... was to come to terms with was the fact that, hey, we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/one-of-the-things-that-was-kind-of-shocking-for-humans-was-to-come-to/) [Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/) > [Hence I feel no shame in asserting that this whole region engirdled by the moon, and the center of the earth, traverse this grand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaus-copernicus/hence-i-feel-no-shame-in-asserting-that-this-whole-region-engirdled/) [Nicolaus Copernicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaus-copernicus/) > [I am not the center of the universe. And it's a lesson that I keep having to learn; it's my ongoing work, I'd say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fabian/i-am-not-the-center-of-the-universe-and-it-s-a-lesson-that-i-keep/) [Patrick Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fabian/) > [“if I wanted to be the center of the universe I’d have a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/if-i-wanted-to-be-the-center-of-the-universe-i-d-have-a-dog/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [People want to be at the center of the Universe...and they're going to flock to anybody who tells them that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/people-want-to-be-at-the-center-of-the-universe-and-they-re-going-to/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [You're making yourself too important. Guilt comes from feeling we're at the center of the universe. We're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-whelan/you-re-making-yourself-too-important-guilt-comes-from-feeling-we-re/) [Gloria Whelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-whelan/) > [“Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our not being, each of us, the center of the universe; of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/imagine-that-human-existence-is-defined-by-an-ache-the-ache-of-our/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [The ideas of directing attention outward, trying to imagine other people complexly, trying not to see myself as the center of the universe -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-ideas-of-directing-attention-outward-trying-to-imagine-other/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“The biblical account of the origin of the cosmos in Genesis, for example, posits that a god created the physical universe particularly with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-maudlin/the-biblical-account-of-the-origin-of-the-cosmos-in-genesis-for/) [Tim Maudlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-maudlin/) > [Even as I'm shoveling up my hooter, I realize the sad truth. Coke bores me, It bores us all. We're jaded cunts, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/even-as-i-m-shoveling-up-my-hooter-i-realize-the-sad-truth-coke-bores/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If you're going to play what-if --which, by the way, is a huge waste of time and energy, not to mention an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-bass/if-you-re-going-to-play-what-if-which-by-the-way-is-a-huge-waste-of/) [Jefferson Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-bass/) > [When you're in New York City or Los Angeles, even if you're not dealing with show business, there's still this sense that it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/when-you-re-in-new-york-city-or-los-angeles-even-if-you-re-not/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [At the center of the Universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person. Anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/at-the-center-of-the-universe-is-a-loving-heart-that-continues-to/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) [Browse all 193 Center of the universe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-of-the-universe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Long ago it took a Copernicus to tell a provincial world that this planet was not the center of the universe. Some selfish moderns need a Copernican reminder that they are not the center of the universe either!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal A. 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