At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun.

Every light has its shadow, and every shadow hath a succeeding morning.

Therefore I would not have it unknown to Your Holiness, the the only thing which induced me to look for another way of reckoning the movements of the heavenly bodies was that I knew that mathematicians by no means agree in their investigation thereof.

I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people learn that in this book which I have written concerning the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected.

For what could be more beautiful than the heavens which contain all beautiful things.

At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun.

So, influenced by these advisors and this hope, I have at length allowed my friends to publish the work, as they had long besought me to do.