Cosimo is the Grand Duke of Florence, though he is only a child around Andrea’s age. As such, he is led mostly by his Catholic advisers, and even when he comes to an age of reason, he continues to parrot their beliefs. His age and lack of maturity can be readily seen in the physical tussle he gets into with Andrea over a wooden model of the solar system. Because Cosimo is so easily handled by his staff, it is impossible for him to assist Galileo, although it’s not clear that he would want to assist Galileo even if he could.
Cosimo de Medici Quotes in The Life of Galileo
The The Life of Galileo quotes below are all either spoken by Cosimo de Medici or refer to Cosimo de Medici. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Penguin Books edition of The Life of Galileo published in 2008.
Scene 4
Quotes
You're an idiot, and to hell with manners, just give it over or you'll start something.
Related Characters:
Andrea Sarti (speaker), Cosimo de Medici
Related Themes:
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Explanation and Analysis:
Right, then let's have new textbooks.
Related Characters:
Federzoni (speaker), Galileo Galilei, Cosimo de Medici
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Life of Galileo LitChart as a printable PDF.
Cosimo de Medici Character Timeline in The Life of Galileo
The timeline below shows where the character Cosimo de Medici appears in The Life of Galileo. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Scene 4
...Andrea, and Virginia. Mrs. Sarti prepares for the arrival of the Grand Duke of Florence, Cosimo de Medici, whose scientists want to examine the stars Galileo discovered. Cosimo arrives sooner than...
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...lens-grinder and friend, Federzoni, the rest of the court accompany him upstairs. He talks to Cosimo’s scientists about how mathematics have, for some time, been unable to explain certain celestial occurrences...
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In the end, the Cosimo’s scientists leave without even glancing through Galileo’s telescope. They promise to send Galileo’s ideas to...
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Scene 5
A plague has begun in Florence, and Cosimo sends a carriage to escort Galileo, Virginia, Mrs. Sarti, and Andrea to safety. Galileo makes...
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Scene 11
Galileo has been summoned to the Medici palace for a meeting with Cosimo. He and Virginia await the Grand Duke in his antechamber. Galileo sees an old acquaintance,...
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Eventually Cosimo comes out, but only addresses Galileo in passing. Galileo offers the Grand Duke a book,...
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