1001Philosophers

Giordano Bruno Quotes on Truth

Giordano Bruno's philosophical cosmology — set out in the Italian dialogues of 1584 (On the Infinite Universe and Worlds, Cause, Principle, and Unity, The Ash Wednesday Supper) and the late Latin trilogy (De Triplici Minimo, De Monade, De Immenso) — presents truth as the philosophical recognition of the infinite divine cause expressed without diminution across the infinite configurations of an infinite universe. The framework draws on Nicholas of Cusa's coincidence of opposites and on the Hermetic-magical inheritance Bruno took to be the ancient theological wisdom of which scholastic theology was a corrupt residue. The Inquisition's verdict treated this defense of philosophical truth against ecclesiastical authority as the principal heresy.

Quotes

  • “The universe is, then, one, infinite, immobile.”

    As translated by Paul Harrison
  • Attributed to Giordano Bruno:

    “Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.”

  • Attributed to Giordano Bruno:

    “Perhaps you, my judges, pronounce this sentence against me with greater fear than I receive it.”

  • Attributed to Giordano Bruno:

    “It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority.”

  • “If it is not true it is very well invented.”

    Se non è vero, è molto ben trovato.
  • “Variant translations: If it is not true, it is well conceived. If it is not true, it is a good story.”

    Se non è vero, è molto ben trovato.

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