Philosophy is written in this grand book- I mean the universe- which stands continually open to our gaze, but it cannot be understood unless one first learns to comprehend the language in which it is written. It is written in the language of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures, without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it; without these, one is wandering about in a dark labyrinth (1623)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Galileo states that understanding the universe requires learning mathematics, as it is the language in which nature is written.
- In plain terms
- Math is the key to reading the universe.
- What can you take from it?
- Learn math to understand nature.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What language do you use to describe reality?
- How important is math to your work?
Another view
Not all aspects of nature are fully captured by current math.
More from Galileo Galilei
Names and attributes must be accommodated to the essence of things, and not the essence to the names, since things come first and names afterwards.
Permalink to quote #25 The great book of nature is written in mathematical symbols.
Permalink to quote #27 My dear Kepler, what would you say of the learned here, who, replete with the pertinacity of the asp, have steadfastly refused to cast a glance through the tel…
Permalink to quote #24
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