- Andrea Sarti: [upon Galileo's recantation] Unhappy is the land that has no heroes.
- Galileo Galilei: Incorrect. Unhappy is the land that *needs* a hero.
- Cardinal Barberini (later Pope Urban VIII): [trying to save Galileo from torture by the Inquisition] You may show him the instruments, but no more than that.
- Cardinal Inquisitor: [suavely] There will be no need to do more than that. Galileo understands machinery.