"If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the inquisition might have let him alone"

This quote by Thomas Hardy is a discourse on the power of language as well as the consequences of speaking out versus the status quo. By suggesting that Galileo could have been spared the wrath of the Inquisition if he had expressed his clinical concepts in verse, Hardy suggests that the power of language can be made use of to test authority. He suggests that the Inquisition was much more concerned with the form of Galileo's expression than the material of his concepts. This quote additionally suggests that the Inquisition was a lot more concerned with silencing Galileo than with recognizing his concepts. Hardy's quote suggests that the power of language can be utilized to challenge authority and that the Inquisition was much more concerned with silencing Galileo than with recognizing his concepts. By suggesting that Galileo may have been spared the wrath of the Inquisition if he had actually expressed his scientific theories in verse, Hardy suggests that the power of language can be used to test authority which the Inquisition was a lot more concerned with silencing Galileo than with recognizing his theories. This quote acts as a reminder that the power of language can be made use of to challenge authority which the repercussions of speaking up against the status quo can be severe.