A Sense Of Proportion

On This Day In History
1642: Astronomer Galileo dies in Italy

Quote Of The Day
"In time you may discover everything that can be discovered, and still your progress will only be progress away from humanity. The distance between you and them can one day become so great that your joyous cry over some new gain could be answered by a universal shriek of horror."
(Gailieo Galilei)

Bonus Quote Of The Day
"Tragula was horrified to learn (the Total Perspective Vortex) had destroyed her mind, even as he proved his point that if life was going to live in such a vast Universe, the one thing it could not afford to have was a sense of perspective."
(Douglas Adams, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy)


Although the Catholic Church didn't like it, Galileo's heliocentric model of the solar system was the first of many demotions that humanity was going to face in the light of scientific progress. Let's face it, from a galactic perspective, the Earth is just, "Mostly harmless."


The Total Perspective Vortex


Increasing knowledge as "progress away from humanity." I wonder if Galileo was envisioning something like this?

I think I’m what Trig Tragula’s wife would call an idiot.

Heaven And Hell

The Galaxy Song