Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
You mean am I for it or against it? You think this is a key question I'm going to be asked on Vega, and you want to make sure I give the right answer? Okay. Overpopulation is why I'm in favor of homosexuality and a celibate clergy. A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote discusses the complexities of societal issues like overpopulation and how it influences views on sexuality and clergy behavior.
In this quote, Carl Sagan reflects on how pressing issues such as overpopulation affect societal norms and individual beliefs, particularly regarding homosexuality and the expectations of a celibate clergy. He suggests that embracing homosexuality and promoting a celibate clergy can mitigate problems associated with overpopulation and curtail fanaticism, indicating the profound interrelation between personal choices and larger societal challenges.
Themes
OverpopulationHomosexualityCelibacyClergyFanaticism
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on modern societal issues, I quoted Sagan to emphasize the connection between personal beliefs and societal challenges.
More from Carl Sagan
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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.
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The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
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