| John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919. |
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| NUMBER: | 9199 |
| AUTHOR: | Alfonso X (the Wise) (1221–1284) |
| QUOTATION: | Had I been present at the creation, I would have given some useful hints for the better ordering of the universe. 1 |
| BIOGRAPHY: | Columbia Encyclopedia. |
| | Note 1.
Carlyle says, in his “History of Frederick the Great,” book ii. chap. vii. that this saying of Alphonso about Ptolemy’s astronomy, “that it seemed a crank machine; that it was pity the Creator had not taken advice,” is still remembered by mankind,—this and no other of his many sayings. [back] |
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