Controversial Sayings

Their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blasphemy are taught, should be taken from them.

Why call her inferior, who gives birth to kings?

This is not laid down on human authority; it is God who speaks and prescribes a perpetual rule for his Church.

For a long time I was restless. Now, however, behold how through my effort God is being celebrated in astronomy.

The success of charlatans, sorcerors, and alchemists—and all those who abuse public credulity—is founded on errors in this type of calculation.

Experience does not err. Only your judgments err by expecting from her what is not in her power.

If my own son were guilty like you, I should lead him with my own hands to the stake.

No ingenious manufactures amongst them, no arts, no sciences.

A great doctor kills more people than a great general.

Revenge is a kind of wild justice; which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.

What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.

Shit in your bed and make it burst.

If I decide to be an idiot, then I'll be an idiot on my own accord.

I may not be a political genius, but I have eyes and I see.

I have not come here for such reasons. I have come to take away their gold.

For it is the duty of an astronomer to compose the history of the celestial motions from a careful and skillful study of the observations.

The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much, to contradict seldom, and to use all the good manners one can.

Religion is an excellent thing for keeping the common people quiet.

Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the too frequent changes of officers.

This unfortunate difference of color, and perhaps of faculty, is a powerful obstacle to the emancipation of these people.