"As far as hypotheses go, let no one expect anything in the way of certainty from astronomy, since astronomy can offer us nothing certain, lest, if anyone take as true that which has been constructed for another use, he go away from this discipline a bigger fool than when he came to it." (Nicholas Copernicus, "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" ["On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres"], 1543)
"All this you should know exists in man and realize that the firmament is within man, the firmament with its great movements of bodily planets and stars which result in exaltations, conjunctions, oppositions and the like, as you call these phenomena as you understand them. Everything which astronomical theory has searched deeply and gravely by aspects, astronomical tables and so forth,—this self-same knowledge should be a lesson and teaching to you concerning the bodily firmament. For, none among you who is devoid of astronomical knowledge may be filled with medical knowledge." (Paracelsusm "Astronomia Magna" [aka "Philosophia Sagax"], cca 1537–1538 [published 16th century])
"Medicine rests upon four pillars - philosophy, astronomy, alchemy, and ethics." (Paracelsus, cca. 1540)
"The scorn which I had reason to fear on account of the novelty and unconventionality of my opinion almost induced me to abandon completely the work which I had undertaken.... Astronomy is written for astronomers. To them my work too will seem, unless I am mistaken, to make some contribution." (Nicolaus Copernicus, "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" ["On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres"], 1543)
"For astronomy is not only pleasant, but also very useful to be known: it cannot be denied that this art unfolds the admirable wisdom of God." (John Calvin, *Commentary on the Book of Genesis", 1554)
"I wanted to become a theologian; for a long time I was unhappy. Now, behold, God is praised by my work even in astronomy." (Johannes Kepler, [letter to Michael Maestlin] 1595)
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