Harlow Shapley Quotes

12 Sourced Quotes

Chaos is but unperceived order; it is a word indicating the limitations of the human mind and the paucity of observational facts. The words 'chaos,' 'accidental,' 'chance,' 'unpredictable,' are conveniences behind which we hide our ignorance.

Harlow Shapley
Splitting the atom has been going on for billions of years in the universe. It is an old, old story so far as the suns and stars are concerned. They do it easily, whereas man has toiled to accomplish it, and when he did he caused a world-wide headache and a crisis for humanity.

Harlow Shapley
We are brothers of the boulders, cousins of the clouds.

Harlow Shapley
The solar system is off center and consequently man is too...

Harlow Shapley
A hypothesis or theory is clear, decisive, and positive, but it is believed by no one but the man who created it. Experimental findings, on the other hand, are messy, inexact things, which are believed by everyone except the man who did the work.

Harlow Shapley
Astronomers must keep their eyes and ears open, watching and listening.... They must dream of the impossible, and promptly design the best way to attain it.

Harlow Shapley
The atomically small leads directly to the size really immense.

Harlow Shapley
The most interesting feature of this science astronomy (and of all science) is our eager ignorance.

Harlow Shapley
Cosmography is to the Cosmos what geography is to the earth.

Harlow Shapley
Millions of planetary systems must exist, and billions is the better word. Whatever the methods of origin, and doubtless more than one type of genesis has operated, planets may be the common heritage of all stars except those so situated that planetary materials would be swallowed up by greater masses or cast off through gravitational action.

Harlow Shapley
It is high time that astronomers do something about cosmic rays. The physicist now do practically all of the observing and thinking in this area...

Harlow Shapley
Man's role as an investigator and would-be interpreter of the universe is surpassingly fascinating, whether or not it is cosmically significant.

Harlow Shapley