Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle Quotes

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Since the princes take the Earth for their own, it's fair that the philosophers reserve the sky for themselves and rule there, but they should never permit the entry of others.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
Let us be well assured of the Matter of Fact, before we trouble our selves with enquiring into the Cause. It is true, that this Method is too slow for the greatest part of Mankind, who run naturally to the Cause, and pass over the Truth of the Matter of Fact.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
The astronomer thinks of the stars, the naturalist of nature, the philosopher of himself.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
In eternal cares we spend our years, ever agitated by new desires: we look forward to living, and yet never live.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
In love, the importance lies in the beginning. The world knows well that whoever takes one step will take more: it is important, then, to take the first step well.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
That happiness may enter the soul, we must first sweep it clean of all imaginary evils.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
I always think of Nature as a great spectacle, something like the opera.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
There are three things that I have always loved and have never understood: Painting, Music, and Woman.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
They will have the World to be in Large, what a Watch is in Small; which is very regular, and depends only upon the just disposing of the several Parts of the Movement.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
If I held all truths in my hand, I would beware of opening it to men.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
It is beauty that begins to please, and tenderness that completes the charm.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
As astronomy is the daughter of idleness, geometry is the daughter of property.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
Grant a mathematician but one minute principle, he immediately draws a consequence from it, to which you must necessarily assent; and from this consequence another, till he leads you so far (whether you will or no) that you have much ado to believe all he has proved, and what you have already assented to.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
My soul is not mercenary enough for geometry, nor is it tender enough for poetry; but I have as much time to spare as astronomy requires.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle
Our sun enlightens the planets that belong to him; why may not every fixed star also have planets to which they give light?

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle