Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
One trend that bothers me is the glorification of stupidity, that the media is reassuring people it's alright not to know anything. That to me is far more dangerous than a little pornography on the Internet.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes the media for promoting ignorance and devaluing knowledge.
Carl Sagan's quote highlights a troubling trend in society where ignorance is celebrated and knowledge is undervalued. He argues that this glorification of stupidity poses a greater danger to society than issues like pornography, as it can lead to a populace ill-equipped to make informed decisions and engage with the world critically.
Themes
IgnoranceKnowledgeMediaStupidityDanger
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on education reform, one might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of promoting knowledge.
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.
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
The youth need to be enabled to become job generators from job seekers.
Abdul KalamRead
Humans aren't as good as we should be in our capacity to empathize with feelings and thoughts of others, be they humans or other animals on Earth. So maybe part of our formal education should be training in empathy. Imagine how different the world would be if, in fact, that were 'reading, writing, arithmetic, empathy.'
Neil Degrasse TysonRead
My system is to be considered a system leading up, in a general way, to education. It can be followed not only in the education of little children from three to six years of age, but can be extended to children up to ten years of age.
Maria MontessoriRead
A parent or a teacher has only his lifetime; a good book can teach forever.
Louis L'AmourRead
Concentration is the key that opens up to the child the latent treasures within him.
Maria MontessoriRead
"It would seem that you have no useful skill or talent whatsoever" he said. "Have you thought of going into teaching?"
Terry PratchettRead