Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
All civilizations become either spacefaring or extinct.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Civilizations must either advance to explore space or risk eventual extinction.
Carl Sagan's quote emphasizes the importance of space exploration for the survival and progression of civilizations. It suggests that a society's ability to venture beyond its home planet is crucial for its longevity, as those that fail to adapt and explore may ultimately face demise, underscoring the urgency of embracing scientific advancements and the pursuit of knowledge about the universe.
Themes
CivilizationsSpacefaringExtinctionExplorationSurvival
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the future of humanity, one could invoke Sagan's quote to advocate for space programs.
More from Carl Sagan
All quotes βIn more than one respect, the exploring of the Solar System and homesteading other worlds constitutes the beginning, much more than the end, of history.
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How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
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The hole in the ozone layer is a kind of skywriting. At first it seemed to spell out our continuing complacency before a witch's brew of deadly perils. But perhaps it really tells of a newfound talent to work together to protect the global environment.
Carl SaganRead
There is a reward structure in science that is very interesting: Our highest honors go to those who disprove the findings of the most revered among us. So Einstein is revered not just because he made so many fundamental contributions to science, but because he found an imperfection in the fundamental contribution of Isaac Newton.
Carl SaganRead
The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
Carl SaganRead
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