Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
My deeply held belief is that if a god of anything like the traditional sort exists, our curiosity and intelligence is provided by such a God. We would be unappreciative of that gift if we suppressed our passion to explore the universe and ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that if a traditional god exists, our curiosity is a divine gift that should inspire exploration rather than suppression.
Carl Sagan reflects on the relationship between humanity's curiosity and the possible existence of a traditional god. He argues that such a god would endow us with intelligence and a desire to explore both the universe and ourselves. To stifle this passion for exploration would be to show ingratitude for the gifts we have received. Essentially, the quote emphasizes the importance of curiosity and exploration as a fundamental aspect of human experience, suggesting that these qualities are not only beneficial but may be divinely inspired.
Themes
CuriosityIntelligenceExplorationGodGift
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of scientific inquiry and exploration.
More from Carl Sagan
All quotes →In more than one respect, the exploring of the Solar System and homesteading other worlds constitutes the beginning, much more than the end, of history.
Carl SaganRead
How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
Carl SaganRead
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
Similar quotes
In progressive societies the concentration[of wealth] may reach a point where the strength of number in the many poor rivals the strength of ability in the few rich; then the unstable equilibrium generates a critical situation, which history has diversely met by legislation redistributing wealth or by revolution distributing poverty.
Will DurantRead
The dogma of woman's complete historical subjection to men must be rated as one of the most fantastic myths ever created by the human mind.
Mary Ritter BeardRead
Supposed I don't want to redeem myself? Why should I fight to uphold the system that cast me out? I shall take pleasure in seeing it smashed.
Margaret MitchellRead
cause down the shore everything's all right
Bruce SpringsteenRead
As soon as you believe that a label you've put on yourself is true, you've limited something that is literally limitless, you've limited who you are into nothing but a thought.
AdyashantiRead
Science may provide the most useful way to organize empirical, reproducible data, but its power to do so is predicated on its inability to grasp the most central aspects of human life: hope, fear, love, hate, beauty, envy, honor, weakness, striving, suffering, virtue.
Paul KalanithiRead