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Astronomy is the daughter of idleness, geometry is the daughter of interest.

— Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle

L’astronomie est fille de l’oisiveté, la géométrie est fille de l’intérêt

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More quotes by Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle

We can never add more truth to what is true already, nor make that true which is false.

The History of Oracles, and the Cheats of the Pagan Priests (1688)

It is more reasonable to remove error from truth, than to venerate error because it is mix'd with truth.

The History of Oracles, and the Cheats of the Pagan Priests (1688)

If I held all of truth in my hand I would beware of opening it to men.

Behold a universe so immense that I am lost in it. I no longer know where I am. I am just nothing at all. Our world is terrifying in its insignificance.

The Epicureans especially made sport with the paltry Poetry that came from Delphos.

The History of Oracles, and the Cheats of the Pagan Priests (1688)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.